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Best Schools for Optometry in the Southeast Region
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.
Top Schools in Optometry
No school ranked higher than Southern College Of Optometry this year for optometry. Set in the city of Memphis, Southern College Of Optometry is a small private not-for-profit institution. There were roughly 135 optometry students who graduated with this degree at Southern College Of Optometry in the most recent data year. Students who receive their optometry degree from Southern College Of Optometry earn around $106,728 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a degree in optometry from Southern College Of Optometry
Nova Southeastern University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in optometry, ranking #2. Set in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 108 optometry students who graduated with this degree at Nova Southeastern University in the most recent data year. Optometry graduates of Nova Southeastern University earn a median of $88,293 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,021.
See the full optometry program report for Nova Southeastern University
Pikeville College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best optometry schools. Located in the town of Pikeville, Pikeville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Pikeville College graduates 42% of students within six years. Pikeville College awarded about 55 optometry degrees 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.
See the full optometry program report for Pikeville College
Students looking for a strong optometry program will find one at University Of Alabama At Birmingham, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 58 optometry degrees were awarded at University Of Alabama At Birmingham in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Birmingham generally make around $97,611. Students borrow a median of $26,162 to complete this degree.
Read more about the optometry program at University Of Alabama At Birmingham
Narrow Optometry Schools by State
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 5 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.
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