2026 Best Optometry Schools
Looking for the best Optometry programs programs in the United States? We have ranked 25 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Healthcare Degree Search evaluated schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Optometry Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico School Of Optometry tops our 2026 ranking of the best Optometry programs schools in the United States. Set in Bayamon, PR, Inter American University Of Puerto Rico School Of Optometry is a private not-for-profit institution. More on Inter American University Of Puerto Rico School Of Optometry
Out of the 25 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Salus University landed the #2 spot. Salus University is a private not-for-profit school based in Elkins Park, PA. See the full Salus University profile
The strong Optometry programs at Illinois College Of Optometry earned it the #3 place in the United States. Set in Chicago, IL, Illinois College Of Optometry is a private not-for-profit institution. Get the full Illinois College Of Optometry report
A rank of #4 makes Midwestern University Glendale one of the top choices in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Glendale, AZ. Read the full report on Midwestern University Glendale
Out of the 25 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Indiana University Bloomington landed the #5 spot. Set in Bloomington, IN, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. Indiana University Bloomington posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. The median Optometry program debt is $20,542. Read more about Indiana University Bloomington
Midwestern University Downers Grove placed #6 among Optometry schools in the United States. Set in Downers Grove, IL, Midwestern University Downers Grove is a private not-for-profit institution. Read more about Midwestern University Downers Grove
Pacific University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Forest Grove, OR. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Students from in state pay about $56,374 in tuition and fees. The median Optometry program debt is $26,170. Read more about Pacific University
University Of Houston placed #8 among Optometry schools in the United States. Based in Houston, TX, University Of Houston is a public institution. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Typical Optometry student debt is $21,255. See the full University Of Houston profile
Ferris State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Optometry schools. This public school is set in Big Rapids, MI. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $14,778 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,562 to complete their Optometry program here. Read more about Ferris State University
Suny College Of Optometry placed #10 among Optometry schools in the United States. Based in New York, NY, Suny College Of Optometry is a public institution. Read the full report on Suny College Of Optometry
University Of The Incarnate Word came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in San Antonio, TX. About 50% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $37,090. University Of The Incarnate Word Optometry students take on a median of $28,028 in debt. Get the full University Of The Incarnate Word report
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public school based in Columbus, OH. About 88% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. The median Optometry program debt is $22,053. Read more about Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of California Berkeley landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. Located in Berkeley, CA, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. University Of California Berkeley Optometry students take on a median of $14,238 in debt. See the full University Of California Berkeley profile
Northeastern State University placed #14 among Optometry schools in the United States. Located in Tahlequah, OK, Northeastern State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,810, compared with $17,290 for out-of-state students. Typical Optometry student debt is $23,465. Read the full report on Northeastern State University
University Of Missouri St Louis ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Optometry schools. University Of Missouri St Louis is a public school based in Saint Louis, MO. University Of Missouri St Louis graduates 57% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,120, with out-of-state students paying around $37,620. The median Optometry program debt is $25,943. See the full University Of Missouri St Louis profile
University Of Alabama At Birmingham did well this year, earning the #16 position. Based in Birmingham, AL, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,098, while out-of-state students pay about $22,562. Students borrow a median of $26,162 to complete their Optometry program here. See the full University Of Alabama At Birmingham profile
Southern California College Of Optometry placed #17 among Optometry schools in the United States. Southern California College Of Optometry is a private not-for-profit school based in Fullerton, CA. Get the full Southern California College Of Optometry report
Western University Of Health Sciences came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Set in Pomona, CA, Western University Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Read the full report on Western University Of Health Sciences
Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Boston, MA. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,530. Typical Optometry student debt is $29,056. More on Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences
Pikeville College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Based in Pikeville, KY, Pikeville College is a private not-for-profit institution. Pikeville College graduates 42% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $24,850. The median Optometry program debt is $22,966. More on Pikeville College
Nova Southeastern University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Optometry schools. Based in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Nova Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Nova Southeastern University posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,700. The median Optometry program debt is $25,021. More on Nova Southeastern University
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of North Carolina At Pembroke
Rocky Mountain University Of Health Professions came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Get the full Rocky Mountain University Of Health Professions report
New England College Of Optometry ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Optometry schools. More on New England College Of Optometry
Southern College Of Optometry landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. More on Southern College Of Optometry
Best Optometry Schools by Degree Level
Compare rankings by degree level:
- Best Optometry Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Optometry Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Optometry Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Optometry Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Optometry Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Optometry Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Optometry Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Healthcare Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 25 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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