2026 Best Optometry Schools in California

Optometry programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. 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 3 schools to find the best for optometry students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Optometry Schools in California

Best Schools for Optometry in California

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall optometry education in California.

Top Schools in Optometry

1

University Of California Berkeley
Berkeley, CA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

55 Optometry Degrees Awarded

$88,760 Median Starting Salary

Leading the list is University Of California Berkeley, our #1 school for optometry. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 55 optometry degrees in the most recent data 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

2

Western University Of Health Sciences
Pomona, CA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

88 Optometry Degrees Awarded

$84,910 Median Starting Salary

A rank of #2 makes Western University Of Health Sciences one of the top schools for optometry. Set in the suburb of Pomona, Western University Of Health Sciences is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 88 optometry degrees were awarded at Western University Of Health Sciences in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from Western University Of Health Sciences generally make around $84,910. Read more about the optometry program at Western University Of Health Sciences

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 3 schools evaluated.

• 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.