[Optometry](/majors/health-care-professions/optometry/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong optometry education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 25 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for optometry students.
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Finding the Best Value Optometry School for You
Where you study optometry affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value Optometry Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Optometry Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
For return on investment in optometry, no school beat Northeastern State University this year. Located in the town of Tahlequah, Northeastern State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,810 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,290. Students borrow a median of $23,465 to complete the optometry program here. Optometry graduates of Northeastern State University earn a median of $106,097 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,465 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Ferris State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in optometry, landing the #2 spot this year. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $14,778. Typical student debt for optometry graduates is $23,562. Early-career optometry graduates make about $113,016. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri St Louis came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value optometry schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,120, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,943 to complete the optometry program here. Optometry graduates of University Of Missouri St Louis earn a median of $97,440 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri St Louis admits about 63% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Pikeville College one of the best values for optometry. Set in the town of Pikeville, Pikeville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $24,850. Typical student debt for optometry graduates is $22,966. Optometry graduates of Pikeville College earn a median of $120,196 early in their careers. Set against $22,966 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in optometry will find it at University Of Houston, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Students borrow a median of $21,255 to complete the optometry program here. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $104,352. That is a strong return on a $21,255 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of California Berkeley ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value optometry schools. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete the optometry program here. Optometry graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $88,760 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Indiana University Bloomington placed #7 among the best values for optometry. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Students borrow a median of $20,542 to complete the optometry program here. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $109,361. That is a strong return on a $20,542 median debt. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham placed #8 among the best values for optometry. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,098, compared with $22,562 for out-of-state students. Optometry graduates carry a median of $26,162 in student loans. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Birmingham generally make around $97,611. Set against $26,162 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #9 position for value in optometry this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for optometry graduates is $22,053. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $95,369. Set against $22,053 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of The Incarnate Word landed the #10 spot for optometry value this year. University Of The Incarnate Word is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,090. Students borrow a median of $28,028 to complete the optometry program here. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from University Of The Incarnate Word generally make around $96,994. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of The Incarnate Word admits about 98% of applicants.
Nova Southeastern University landed the #11 spot for optometry value this year. Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,700. Typical student debt for optometry graduates is $25,021. Early-career optometry graduates make about $88,293. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Nova Southeastern University admits about 73% of applicants.
Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences placed #12 among the best values for optometry. Set in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,530. Typical student debt for optometry graduates is $29,056. Early-career optometry graduates make about $95,374. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Pacific University placed #13 among the best values for optometry. Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Forest Grove. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,374. Students borrow a median of $26,170 to complete the optometry program here. Optometry graduates of Pacific University earn a median of $107,293 early in their careers. Set against $26,170 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 ranked schools only.
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).
[Optometry](/majors/health-care-professions/optometry/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong optometry education at a price that pays off.
