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.
College Factual analyzed 1 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value optometry schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in optometry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Pikeville College, our #1 best value for optometry in Kentucky. Located in the town of Pikeville, Pikeville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $24,850. Optometry graduates carry a median of $22,966 in student loans. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from Pikeville College generally make around $120,196. Set against $22,966 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
This list is compiled 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 · 1 school evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.