by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study optometry, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 13 colleges ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing optometry, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits (including GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon support), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. To help you decide, College Factual reviewed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
Narrow this ranking to a degree level below:
Here are the top-ranked optometry colleges for veterans:
Ohio State University-Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best optometry colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 89.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about optometry at Ohio State University-Main Campus
University of Alabama at Birmingham came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best optometry colleges for veterans. It scores 87.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the optometry program at University of Alabama at Birmingham
Veteran students seeking a strong optometry program will find one at University of Missouri-St Louis, which ranked #3. University of Missouri-St Louis scores 80.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full optometry report for University of Missouri-St Louis
Veteran students seeking a strong optometry program will find one at Ferris State University, which ranked #4. The school's overall veterans score is 77.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the optometry program at Ferris State University
Veteran students seeking a strong optometry program will find one at Indiana University-Bloomington, which ranked #5. Indiana University-Bloomington scores 77.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
More about the optometry program at Indiana University-Bloomington
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University of Houston landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing optometry. It scores 75.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full optometry report for University of Houston
University of California-Berkeley placed #7 among the best optometry colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 73.4 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the optometry program at University of California-Berkeley
University of the Incarnate Word placed #8 among the best optometry colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 72.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 76.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the optometry program at University of the Incarnate Word
Nova Southeastern University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best optometry colleges for veterans. It scores 72.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 73.1, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about optometry at Nova Southeastern University
Northeastern State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best optometry colleges for veterans. It scores 63.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Read more about optometry at Northeastern State University
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MCPHS University placed #11 among the best optometry colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 62.5 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 69.8, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. Read more about optometry at MCPHS University
Pacific University placed #12 among the best optometry colleges for veterans. It scores 61.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 49.8, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about optometry at Pacific University
University of Pikeville ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best optometry colleges for veterans. University of Pikeville scores 54.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3. See the full optometry report for University of Pikeville
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
We measure this ranking on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying optometry: affordability and veteran financial benefits (GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
