by our College Data Analytics TeamOptometry is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 25 schools to find the best for optometry students.
What’s on this page:
The school you choose for optometry can shape your career. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Optometry rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Optometry Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this 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.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the optometry degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Southern College Of Optometry, our #1 school for optometry. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Memphis. There were roughly 135 optometry students who graduated with this degree at Southern College Of Optometry in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from Southern College Of Optometry generally make around $106,728. Get the full optometry details for Southern College Of Optometry
Midwestern University Glendale is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in optometry, ranking #2. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Glendale. Midwestern University Glendale awarded about 63 optometry degrees in the most recent data year. Optometry graduates of Midwestern University Glendale earn a median of $98,281 early in their careers. Get the full optometry details for Midwestern University Glendale
Indiana University Bloomington is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in optometry, landing the #3 spot this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. About 80% of students finish within six years. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 83 optometry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their optometry degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $109,361 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,542. Read more about the optometry program at Indiana University Bloomington
Midwestern University Downers Grove came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best optometry schools. Set in the city of Downers Grove, Midwestern University Downers Grove is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 59 optometry degrees were awarded at Midwestern University Downers Grove in the most recent year. Optometry graduates of Midwestern University Downers Grove earn a median of $117,219 early in their careers. See the full optometry program report for Midwestern University Downers Grove
Pacific University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in optometry, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Forest Grove, Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Pacific University graduates 67% of students within six years. About 85 optometry degrees were awarded at Pacific University in the most recent year. Optometry graduates of Pacific University earn a median of $107,293 early in their careers. Pacific University graduates carry a median of $26,170 in student loans. Read more about the optometry program at Pacific University
Nova Southeastern University came in at #6 for optometry this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. Nova Southeastern University graduates 63% of students within six years. About 108 optometry degrees were awarded at Nova Southeastern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from Nova Southeastern University generally make around $88,293. Nova Southeastern University graduates carry a median of $25,021 in student loans. More information about a degree in optometry from Nova Southeastern University
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best optometry schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 68 optometry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their optometry degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $95,369 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in optometry from Ohio State University Main Campus
Illinois College Of Optometry earned the #8 position for optometry this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois College Of Optometry is a small private not-for-profit university. About 121 optometry degrees were awarded at Illinois College Of Optometry in the most recent year. Students who receive their optometry degree from Illinois College Of Optometry earn around $105,772 in the first couple years of their career. More information about a degree in optometry from Illinois College Of Optometry
Pikeville College came in at #9 for optometry this year. Located in the town of Pikeville, Pikeville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 42% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 55 optometry students who graduated with this degree at Pikeville College in the most recent data year. Optometry graduates of Pikeville College earn a median of $120,196 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,966 to complete this degree. Get the full optometry details for Pikeville College
Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best optometry schools. Set in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 59 optometry degrees were awarded at Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences generally make around $95,374. Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences graduates carry a median of $29,056 in student loans. More information about a degree in optometry from Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences
University Of California Berkeley earned the #11 position for optometry this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 55 optometry degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Students who receive their optometry degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $88,760 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete this degree. Read more about the optometry program at University Of California Berkeley
Western University Of Health Sciences placed #12 among the best optometry schools. Located in the suburb of Pomona, Western University Of Health Sciences is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. There were roughly 88 optometry students who graduated with this degree at Western University Of Health Sciences in the most recent data year. Graduates of the optometry program make about $84,910 in their early career. More information about a degree in optometry from Western University Of Health Sciences
Ferris State University earned the #13 position for optometry this year. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 31 optometry degrees were awarded at Ferris State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $113,016. Typical student debt for the program is $23,562. More information about a degree in optometry from Ferris State University
University Of Houston placed #14 among the best optometry schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 84 optometry students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston in the most recent data year. Optometry graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $104,352 early in their careers. University Of Houston graduates carry a median of $21,255 in student loans. See the full optometry program report for University Of Houston
University Of Missouri St Louis ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best optometry schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public university. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 41 optometry degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri St Louis in the most recent year. Optometry graduates of University Of Missouri St Louis earn a median of $97,440 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,943 to complete this degree. See the full optometry program report for University Of Missouri St Louis
University Of Alabama At Birmingham ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best optometry schools. Located in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 58 optometry students who graduated with this degree at University Of Alabama At Birmingham in the most recent data year. Graduates of the optometry program make about $97,611 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,162 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in optometry from University Of Alabama At Birmingham
University Of The Incarnate Word earned the #17 position for optometry this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Antonio. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 58 optometry degrees were awarded at University Of The Incarnate Word in the most recent year. Students who receive their optometry degree from University Of The Incarnate Word earn around $96,994 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,028. More information about a degree in optometry from University Of The Incarnate Word
Northeastern State University placed #18 among the best optometry schools. Located in the town of Tahlequah, Northeastern State University is a moderately-sized public university. About 35% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 28 optometry students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern State University in the most recent data year. Optometry graduates of Northeastern State University earn a median of $106,097 early in their careers. Northeastern State University graduates carry a median of $23,465 in student loans. Get the full optometry details for Northeastern State University
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico School Of Optometry earned the #19 position for optometry this year. Set in the city of Bayamon, Inter American University Of Puerto Rico School Of Optometry is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 19 optometry degrees were awarded at Inter American University Of Puerto Rico School Of Optometry in the most recent year. Graduates of the optometry program make about $100,056 in their early career. Get the full optometry details for Inter American University Of Puerto Rico School Of Optometry
Salus University landed the #20 spot for optometry this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Elkins Park. Salus University awarded about 145 optometry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the optometry program make about $121,020 in their early career. Get the full optometry details for Salus University
Explore the best optometry schools by region.
Explore other rankings in majors related to Optometry. See all related rankings.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Optometry | 1,443 |
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 25 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
