Picking an optometry school is like picking glasses — get the wrong fit, and you will be squinting at your career for a long time.
With only 24 accredited optometry programs in the entire US, your options are limited but very good.
The right school will shape your clinical skills, your board exam results, and your starting salary.
Choosing wisely now will pay off for decades.
It is important to make sure that you get the right kind of education so that you can go into your career being fully prepared to do your job.
Because of that, you will want to know about the best optometry colleges located in the US that you have to choose from.
These colleges can set you up for success so that when you graduate, you have a clear career path to follow.
This is why many students choose to go to the most popular options in the US, as they have so much to offer.
Optometrists earned a median salary of $134,830 in 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with job growth projected at 8% through 2034.
That is well above the average for all occupations, making this one of the more reliable career paths you can choose.
What Are the Best Optometry Colleges in the US?
If you want to become an optometrist, you will need to look into the best of optometry colleges in the US. This includes colleges like the Illinois College of Optometry and the Ohio State University College of Optometry to optometry students.
This is a very popular major for college students to go into in order to become an optometrist in the future after they graduate.
That being said, it is essential to pick the best optometry college that you can find to ensure that you will get the education that you need.
Beyond graduation rates, experts now recommend also comparing each school’s NBEO board exam pass rate, residency program availability, and total program cost before applying.
These factors have a direct impact on how quickly you can get licensed and start working after you graduate.
To find the right college for you, look through some of the best optometry colleges located in the US below.
9. Arizona College of Optometry
The Arizona College of Optometry has an exemplary track record, as it has a 98% graduation rate among its students.
This is practically unheard of in any colleges that are not considered to be one of the elite colleges.
Some of the benefits of going to this college are that students have access to faculty community facilities where they can practice what they are learning.
There are also simulations that students can use to get a better understanding of their coursework by doing hands-on work.
All of these benefits help graduates to establish profitable careers in optometry.
8. Ohio State University College of Optometry
The Ohio State University College of Optometry is another college that has very high rankings in the world of optometry.
The college itself, as well as its faculty and students, have received all kinds of awards in its progress.
This college offers cutting-edge options for students and some of the best types of learning to help prepare them for the future.
It also has a 97% graduation rate, showing that its students are able to learn what they need to get through their major.
Only 64 students are accepted into the Ohio State University college of optometry, showing just how selective this school really is.
Getting your degree from such a selective university is bound to open doors later on in your career once you graduate.
7. Illinois College of Optometry
The Illinois College of Optometry has a 94% graduation rate and offers plenty of hands-on training to teach students better.
Hands-on training is something that only the best optometry colleges offer, as it is the best way to teach students.
This college graduates 160 students a year, placing it on the list of very selective colleges.
Students who attend this college will learn on a campus that is located close to the city.
This creates a beautiful environment for learning where students are surrounded by support and some of the best staff.
6. Southern College of Optometry
Located in Tennessee, the Southern College of Optometry is one of the oldest optometry colleges and has gained quite a reputation over the years.
This campus is known for its exemplary hands-on training, as it is also home to a clinic.
At this clinic, real-life patients go to get care directly from the students who are learning on campus.
136 students graduate from this college each year and it has a 99% graduation rate.
It sets the Southern College of Optometry above many of the other competitors, revealing just how effective its training tactics are.
Anyone who graduates from this college is sure to have an outstanding career and plenty of opportunities open to them.
5. University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry
The University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry is the only optometry college located in Kentucky.
This means that Kentucky residents stand a good chance of getting into this college when they apply, as it typically prioritizes locals.
The university has a 91% graduation rate and takes many steps to help its students financially when they are going through their coursework.
It also has a 38% acceptance rate, which is quite generous considering it is an optometry college.
Note: this college has reported lower NBEO board exam pass rates compared to other programs, so it is worth researching that carefully before applying.
This college was only founded in 2016 but has made strides in making a difference in its community.
4. UC Berkeley School of Optometry
UC Berkeley School of Optometry is another high-end optometry college that has continued to help the next generation of optometrists.
It has a 92.54% graduation rate, which is quite exemplary considering how difficult the coursework is.
Students at UC Berkeley School of Optometry start working with actual patients in their first year of college.
They will continue to work with these patients for a total of 2,500 hours by the time they graduate.
This sets them up for success in their career field as they already have strong real-world experience after graduating.
UC Berkeley is also frequently cited as one of the top programs for research output in vision science.
3. University of Missouri at St. Louis College of Optometry
The University of Missouri at Saint Louis College of Optometry has a 95.65% graduation rate for its students across the board.
This is because this college takes careful care of every one of its students throughout the progress of their college education.
This is a highly sought-after optometry college, and most students will need a strong letter of recommendation as well as work experience before applying.
It offers many benefits so that students are guaranteed to have a successful career once they have graduated.
2. SUNY College of Optometry
SUNY College of Optometry is located in New York, New York, and is one of the most selective optometry colleges that you can find.
It only has an acceptance rate of 23% and requires many things from students who are applying in order even to be considered for acceptance.
The school has a 96.84% graduation rate and has extensive funding for its research programs.
Over the years, this college has been recognized as putting out some of the best optometrists that we have yet to see.
1. Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry
The Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry has a lot to offer students through funding as well as some of the most advanced technology in optometry.
This college has a 97.62% graduation rate, showing that it is clearly doing something right as so many students make it through the coursework.
However, it is important to remember that it only accepts 94 students a year, making this a highly selective college to get into.
It also offers residency programs, which top competitors consistently flag as a key factor in long-term career success.
If you are still exploring your options, also see our guide to the easiest medical schools to get into for a broader comparison.
What Is the Easiest Optometry College to Get Into?
If you want to study optometry but worry about getting into a college, you may be wondering what the easiest optometry college to get into is.
While it does not hurt to submit your application to top schools, it also helps to have backup options.
One of the easiest optometry colleges to get into is the Indiana University College of Optometry.
This college has a higher acceptance rate and does not require too much for potential students to submit.
Though this college is not the only option that you have, as many other optometry colleges are easy to get into, such as:
- Arizona College of Optometry
- Southern California College of Optometry
- Western University of Health Sciences
- University of California
How Many Optometry Colleges Are in the US?
If you want to attend an optometry college, you may be wondering how many of these colleges are located in the US.
As of 2023, there are 24 accredited optometry colleges in the US that students can apply to.
This is up from 23, and there are also two optometry colleges located in Canada if you are willing to go abroad.
This is not a huge number of options when it comes to applying to colleges.
The average total cost of optometry school, including tuition, fees, books, and instruments, runs into six figures, so financial planning is a key part of the application process.
Many of these optometry colleges have a low acceptance rate and are high in demand, so you need to make sure you set yourself up for success.
You may also want to read our breakdown of the easiest law schools to get into if you are still exploring professional school options.
What Optometry Colleges in the US Are the Best?
If you want to attend an optometry college in the US, you may be wondering which college is the best.
You have many amazing colleges to choose from, such as Ohio State University College of Optometry, UC Berkeley School of Optometry, and Arizona College of Optometry.
When comparing programs, always check the NBEO board pass rate, residency placement record, and clinical hours offered alongside the graduation rate.
These are the factors that leading optometry career resources consistently flag as the most predictive of graduate success.
These are where you will receive the best education and will be able to go on and have a very successful career after graduating.