2026 Best Optometry Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Optometry is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best optometry schools.
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Best Schools for Optometry in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall optometry education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Optometry
Indiana University Bloomington is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in optometry. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. About 80% of students finish within six years. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 83 optometry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the optometry program make about $109,361 in their early career. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans.
Get the full optometry details for Indiana University Bloomington
Midwestern University Downers Grove is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in optometry, landing the #2 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Downers Grove. There were roughly 59 optometry students who graduated with this degree at Midwestern University Downers Grove in the most recent data year. Graduates of the optometry program make about $117,219 in their early career.
More information about a degree in optometry from Midwestern University Downers Grove
A rank of #3 makes Ohio State University Main Campus one of the top schools for optometry. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 68 optometry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $95,369. Typical student debt for the program is $22,053.
Get the full optometry details for Ohio State University Main Campus
Illinois College Of Optometry came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best optometry schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois College Of Optometry is a small private not-for-profit university. There were roughly 121 optometry students who graduated with this degree at Illinois College Of Optometry in the most recent data year. Optometry graduates of Illinois College Of Optometry earn a median of $105,772 early in their careers.
Get the full optometry details for Illinois College Of Optometry
Ferris State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in optometry, landing the #5 spot this year. This large public university is located in the town of Big Rapids. Ferris State University graduates 56% of students within six years. About 31 optometry degrees were awarded at Ferris State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their optometry degree from Ferris State University earn around $113,016 in the first couple years of their career. Ferris State University graduates carry a median of $23,562 in student loans.
Get the full optometry details for Ferris State University
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 5 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
