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Pre-Optometry Studies

A program that prepares individuals for admission to a professional program in optometry.

Types of Degrees Pre-Optometry Studies Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing Pre-Optometry Studies may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Associate’s Degree	3
Bachelor’s Degree	4

Who Is Earning a Degree in Pre-Optometry Studies?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 100% of Pre-Optometry Studies degrees.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Pre-Optometry Studies graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	2	28.6%
Asian	3	42.9%
Hispanic or Latino	1	14.3%
Two or More Races	1	14.3%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Pre-Optometry Studies Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Pre-Optometry Studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$36,983
4 years	$51,835
5 years	$63,167

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $63,167 — roughly 71% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Pre-Optometry Studies Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Pre-Optometry Studies graduates earn a median of $51,835 four years after completion — roughly 36% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs	8,993
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other	3,744
Pre-Nursing Studies	2,731
Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies	1,739
Pre-Physical Therapy Studies	256
Pre-Pharmacy Studies	207
Pre-Physician Assistant	127
Pre-Occupational Therapy Studies	113
Pre-Dentistry Studies	53
Pre-Art Therapy	—
Pre-Chiropractic Studies	—
Pre-Veterinary Studies	—

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.