2023 Most Focused Colleges for Optometry
23
Ranked Colleges
1,822
Degrees Awarded
$31,600
Avg Cost*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Optometry is the 194th most popular major in the country with 1,822 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, optometry graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $88,635 and had an average of $0 in loans still to pay off.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major” ranking looked at 23 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in optometry. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their optometry program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Optometry Schools
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major” list to help you make the college decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major”.
Top 23 Most Focused Colleges for Optometry
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Inter American University of Puerto Rico - School of Optometry. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major. UIPR School of Optometry is a small school located in Bayamon, that handed out 39 ’s optometry degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Inter American University of Puerto Rico - School of Optometry Optometry Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern College of Optometry. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major list. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 134 diplomas to qualified ’s optometry students in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Optometry at Southern College of Optometry
Out of the 23 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois College of Optometry landed the #1 spot on the list. Illinois College of Optometry is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 126 ’s optometry degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Illinois College of Optometry Optometry Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend New England College of Optometry. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major. New England College of Optometry is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 137 ’s optometry degrees to qualified students.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Optometry at New England College of Optometry
Out of the 23 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major that were part of this year’s ranking, SUNY College of Optometry landed the #5 spot on the list. SUNY College of Optometry is a small public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 90 ’s optometry degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Optometry at SUNY College of Optometry
Marshall B Ketchum University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking. Fullerton, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s optometry degrees to 98 students in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Optometry at MBKU
Salus University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking. Salus University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 166 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Salus University Optometry Report
With a ranking of #8, University of Pikeville did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major list. This small school is located in Pikeville, Kentucky, and it awarded 55 ’s optometry degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Optometry at UPIKE
With a ranking of #9, Western University of Health Sciences did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major list. Western University of Health Sciences is a small school located in Pomona, California that handed out 75 ’s optometry degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Optometry at Western University of Health Sciences
Pacific University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking, coming in at #10. Pacific University is located in Forest Grove, Oregon and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 88 ’s optometry degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Optometry at Pacific
Midwestern University - Downers Grove did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking, coming in at #11. Midwestern University - Downers Grove is a small school located in Downers Grove, Illinois that handed out 41 ’s optometry degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Optometry at Midwestern University - Downers Grove
Midwestern University - Glendale came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking. Midwestern University - Glendale is located in Glendale, Arizona and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 50 ’s optometry degrees to qualified students.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Optometry at Midwestern University - Glendale
University of the Incarnate Word landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking. UIW is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in San Antonio, Texas. It awarded 64 ’s optometry degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of the Incarnate Word Optometry Report
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking, coming in at #14. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s optometry degrees to 53 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Optometry at MCPHS University
With a ranking of #15, Nova Southeastern University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major list. NUS Florida is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 107 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Nova Southeastern University Optometry Report
University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking, coming in at #16. UMSL is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 47 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Missouri - St Louis Optometry Report
With a ranking of #17, Northeastern State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major list. Northeastern State University is a medium-sized school located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma that handed out 28 ’s optometry degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Northeastern State University Optometry Report
Ferris State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking, coming in at #18. Ferris State University is a public institution located in Big Rapids, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 37 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Ferris State University Optometry Report
University of Houston did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking, coming in at #19. University of Houston is located in Houston, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 105 ’s optometry degrees to qualified students.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Optometry at UH
With a ranking of #20, University of Alabama at Birmingham did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major list. Birmingham, Alabama is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s optometry degrees to 50 students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Optometry at University of Alabama at Birmingham
Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking, coming in at #21. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 84 ’s optometry degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Full IU Bloomington Optometry Report
University of California - Berkeley did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking, coming in at #22. UC Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 83 ’s optometry degrees to qualified students.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UC Berkeley Optometry Report
Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 65 ’s optometry degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Optometry Report
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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
- *Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate 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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