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2024 Best Optometry Schools in the Great Lakes Region

5 Colleges in the Great Lakes Region
353 Optometry Degrees Awarded
$94,353 Avg Early-Career Salary
Optometry isn't the most popular major in the world, but it's not the least popular either. To be more precise it ranks #194 in popularity out of 395 majors in the country. As such, the degree program isn't offered at every college in the United States, but there are schools that do have a program in the field that are top-notch when it comes to quality.

In 2024, College Factual analyzed 5 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Optometry Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 353 degrees in optometry to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Optometry School

Best Optometry Schools in the Great Lakes Region Your choice of optometry school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. We derive our Best Overall Optometry School rankings by rolling up our degree-level rankings after weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each school.

You may want to choose one of the degree levels below to find the schools of most interest to you.

Pick Your Optometry Degree Level

Doctor's Degrees in Optometry

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Optometry Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision. You can also filter this list by location to find schools closer to you.

In addition to College Factual's rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.

More information on how we come up with our rankings can be found here: College Factual's Data Methodology.

Best Schools for Optometry in the Great Lakes Region

Although we recommend filtering by degree level first, you can view the list below to see which schools give the educational experience for the optometry degree levels they offer.

Top Great Lakes Region Schools in Optometry

1
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
126 Optometry Degrees Awarded
$90,266 Median Starting Salary

It is difficult to beat Illinois College of Optometry if you wish to pursue a degree in optometry. Illinois College of Optometry is a small private not-for-profit college located in the large city of Chicago.

There were roughly 126 optometry students who graduated with this degree at Illinois College of Optometry in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the optometry program state that they receive average early career income of $90,266.

More information about a degree in optometry from Illinois College of Optometry

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
84 Optometry Degrees Awarded
19.0% Growth in Graduates

Indiana University - Bloomington is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in optometry. IU Bloomington is a very large public university located in the small city of Bloomington. A Best Colleges rank of #55 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means IU Bloomington is a great university overall.

There were approximately 84 optometry students who graduated with this degree at IU Bloomington in the most recent data year. After graduating, optometry degree recipients usually make about $95,538 in their early careers.

More information about a degree in optometry from Indiana University - Bloomington

3
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
41 Optometry Degrees Awarded
$102,561 Median Starting Salary

It is hard to beat Midwestern University - Downers Grove if you wish to pursue a degree in optometry. Located in the suburb of Downers Grove, Midwestern University - Downers Grove is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.

There were about 41 optometry students who graduated with this degree at Midwestern University - Downers Grove in the most recent year we have data available. Those optometry students who get their degree from Midwestern University - Downers Grove receive $8,208 more than the average optometry grad.

More information about a degree in optometry from Midwestern University - Downers Grove

4
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
65 Optometry Degrees Awarded
3.1% Growth in Graduates

It is hard to beat Ohio State University - Main Campus if you wish to pursue a degree in optometry. Ohio State is a very large public university located in the large city of Columbus. This university ranks 2nd out of 96 schools for overall quality in the state of Ohio.

There were approximately 65 optometry students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the optometry program earn about $89,790 for their early career.

More information about a degree in optometry from Ohio State University - Main Campus

5
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
37 Optometry Degrees Awarded
10.8% Growth in Graduates

Ferris is a large public university located in the distant town of Big Rapids. This university ranks 16th out of 57 schools for overall quality in the state of Michigan.

There were about 37 optometry students who graduated with this degree at Ferris in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the optometry program report average early career earnings of $93,610.

More information about a degree in optometry from Ferris State University

Best Optometry Colleges by State

Explore the best optometry schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes Region .

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Michigan 322 37
Ohio 314 65
Illinois 304 167
Indiana 294 84

View All Rankings >

Optometry is one of 34 different types of Health Professions programs to choose from.

Optometry Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Optometry 353

View All Optometry Concentrations >

Majors Similar to Optometry

Related Major Annual Graduates
Nursing 57,106
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 20,420
Health & Medical Administrative Services 13,622
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 11,943
Allied Health Professions 11,824
Public Health 5,221
Medicine 4,784
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions 4,543
Mental & Social Health Services 4,209
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science 3,389

View All Optometry Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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