by our College Data Analytics Team
[Optometry](/majors/health-care-professions/optometry/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for optometry students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in optometry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Ferris State University, our #1 best value for optometry in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,778. Optometry graduates carry a median of $23,562 in student loans. Optometry graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $113,016 early in their careers. Set against $23,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Students looking for strong value in optometry will find it at Indiana University Bloomington, which ranked #2. 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, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for optometry graduates is $20,542. Early-career optometry graduates make about $109,361. Set against $20,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Ohio State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in optometry, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Optometry graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans. Optometry graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $95,369 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,053 median debt. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
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This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.