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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Optometry Schools in the Southwest Region

3 Colleges in the United States
233 Optometry Degrees Awarded
$101,431 Avg Early-Career Salary

Optometry 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.

College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best optometry schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Optometry in the Southwest 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

1

Midwestern University Glendale is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in optometry. Located in the suburb of Glendale, Midwestern University Glendale is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 63 optometry degrees were awarded at Midwestern University Glendale in the most recent year. Students who receive their optometry degree from Midwestern University Glendale earn around $98,281 in the first couple years of their career. See the full optometry program report for Midwestern University Glendale

2

Students looking for a strong optometry program will find one at University Of Houston, which ranked #2. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 84 optometry degrees were awarded at University Of Houston in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $104,352. University Of Houston graduates carry a median of $21,255 in student loans. More information about a degree in optometry from University Of Houston

3

University Of The Incarnate Word is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in optometry, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, University Of The Incarnate Word is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 58 optometry degrees were awarded at University Of The Incarnate Word in the most recent year. Graduates of the optometry program make about $96,994 in their early career. University Of The Incarnate Word graduates carry a median of $28,028 in student loans. Read more about the optometry program at University Of The Incarnate Word

4

Northeastern State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in optometry, ranking #4. Northeastern State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Tahlequah. About 35% of students finish within six years. About 28 optometry degrees were awarded at Northeastern State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from Northeastern State University generally make around $106,097. Students borrow a median of $23,465 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in optometry from Northeastern State University

Narrow Optometry Schools by State

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View All Optometry Rankings >

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Notes and References

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 · 4 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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