2027 Best Value Optometry Schools in the Southwest Region
[Optometry](/majors/health-care-professions/optometry/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong optometry education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value optometry schools.
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2027 Best Value Optometry Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in optometry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Optometry Schools
For return on investment in optometry, no school beat Northeastern State University this year. Set in the town of Tahlequah, Northeastern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,810 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,290. Optometry graduates carry a median of $23,465 in student loans. Early-career optometry graduates make about $106,097. That is a strong return on a $23,465 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%.
University Of Houston is a great value for students pursuing a degree in optometry, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Optometry graduates carry a median of $21,255 in student loans. Early-career optometry graduates make about $104,352. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in optometry will find it at University Of The Incarnate Word, which ranked #3. Located in the city of San Antonio, University Of The Incarnate Word is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,090. Students borrow a median of $28,028 to complete the optometry program here. Early-career optometry graduates make about $96,994. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- 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.
