2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2019-2020, 1,666 people earned their degree in optometry, making the major the 310th most popular in the United States.
At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,666 optometry graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,680 and $116,043 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate” ranking looked at 19 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in optometry. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent optometry programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the optometry program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
The optometry school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate”.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate.
Top 19 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Optometry
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New England College of Optometry. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate list. New England College of Optometry is a small school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 139 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.
New England College of Optometry did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at New England College of Optometry are $21,771.
Read full report on Optometry at New England College of Optometry
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, Ferris State University landed the #2 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Big Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 33 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our doctor’s degree optometry students list, Ferris has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ferris are $7,908, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, SUNY College of Optometry landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in New York, New York, this small public school awarded 99 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s optometry students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our doctor’s degree optometry students list, SUNY Optometry has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SUNY Optometry are $23,561, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pikeville landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Pikeville is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pikeville, Kentucky. It awarded 36 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.
UPIKE not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UPIKE are $8,100, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, Northeastern State University landed the #5 spot on the list. NSU is a medium-sized school located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma that handed out 28 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.
NSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NSU are $10,600.
University of Houston came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate ranking. University of Houston is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 95 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our doctor’s degree optometry students list, UH has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UH are $18,689, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #7, Western University of Health Sciences did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate list. Western University of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pomona, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 75 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Western University of Health Sciences, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western University of Health Sciences are $23,596, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Optometry at Western University of Health Sciences
With a ranking of #8, University of Alabama at Birmingham did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate list. University of Alabama at Birmingham is a large public school situated in Birmingham, Alabama. It awarded 41 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.
UAB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UAB are $19,188.
University of the Incarnate Word came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate ranking. This medium-sized school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 59 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.
UIW also made our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of the Incarnate Word are $19,242, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #10, Salus University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate list. Salus University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. It awarded 149 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.
Salus University also took the #4 spot in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Salus University are $32,988.
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #11. MCPHS University is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 50 doctorate’s optometry degrees to qualified students.
MCPHS University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at MCPHS University are $23,280, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Optometry at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Nova Southeastern University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Nova Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 87 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at NUS Florida, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Nova Southeastern University are $22,242, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of California - Berkeley landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school handed out 66 degrees to qualified doctorate’s optometry students in 2019-2020.
UC Berkeley also made our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #14, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate list. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 68 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.
IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338.
Pacific University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Pacific is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Forest Grove, Oregon. It awarded 91 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.
Pacific also took the #7 spot in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Pacific University are $35,325.
Marshall B Ketchum University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate ranking. MBKU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fullerton, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 101 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
MBKU also took the #8 spot in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Marshall B Ketchum University are $37,646, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #17. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 46 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our doctor’s degree optometry students list, UMSL has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMSL are $30,154.
Read full report on Optometry at University of Missouri - St Louis
Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 63 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Midwestern University - Glendale did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #19. Midwestern University - Glendale is a small school located in Glendale, Arizona that handed out 52 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.
Midwestern University - Glendale did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Midwestern University - Glendale are $47,512, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Optometry at Midwestern University - Glendale
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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