by our College Data Analytics Team
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2021-2022, 1,746 people earned their degree in optometry, making the major the 302nd most popular in the United States.
At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,726 optometry graduates with average earnings and debt of $75,735 and $124,256 respectively.
This year’s “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major” ranking analyzed 23 colleges that offered a degree in optometry. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in optometry.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
The optometry school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major”.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major”.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Illinois College of Optometry. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major list. Illinois College of Optometry is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 139 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Out of the 23 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern College of Optometry landed the #1 spot on the list. Memphis, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s optometry degrees to 124 students in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Out of the 23 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Inter American University of Puerto Rico - School of Optometry landed the #1 spot on the list. UIPR School of Optometry is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 27 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Optometry at Inter American University of Puerto Rico - School of Optometry
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend New England College of Optometry. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 118 degrees to qualified doctorate’s optometry students in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Out of the 23 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major that were part of this year’s ranking, SUNY College of Optometry landed the #5 spot on the list. New York, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s optometry degrees to 96 students in 2021-2022.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Marshall B Ketchum University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking. This small school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 104 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Salus University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking, coming in at #7. Salus University is a small school located in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania that handed out 147 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
With a ranking of #8, University of Pikeville did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major list. University of Pikeville is located in Pikeville, Kentucky and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 79 doctorate’s optometry degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Western University of Health Sciences did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking, coming in at #9. Pomona, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s optometry degrees to 75 students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Optometry at Western University of Health Sciences
Pacific University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking. Pacific is a private not-for-profit institution located in Forest Grove, Oregon. The school has a small population, and it awarded 85 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #11, Midwestern University - Downers Grove did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major list. Midwestern University - Downers Grove is a private not-for-profit institution located in Downers Grove, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 43 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Midwestern University - Glendale ranked #12 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major list. Glendale, Arizona is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s optometry degrees to 52 students in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Optometry at Midwestern University - Glendale
With a ranking of #13, University of the Incarnate Word did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major list. Located in San Antonio, Texas, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 52 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s optometry students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Optometry at University of the Incarnate Word
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major list. MCPHS University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 55 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Optometry Report
Nova Southeastern University ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major list. NUS Florida is a large school located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that handed out 95 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Optometry at Nova Southeastern University
University of Missouri - St Louis came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking. University of Missouri - St Louis is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 37 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Optometry at University of Missouri - St Louis
With a ranking of #17, Northeastern State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major list. Located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, this medium-sized public school awarded 28 degrees to qualified doctorate’s optometry students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Optometry at Northeastern State University
Ferris State University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major list. Ferris State University is located in Big Rapids, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 35 doctorate’s optometry degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
University of Houston came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking. University of Houston is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 92 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
University of Alabama at Birmingham ranked #20 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major list. UAB is a public institution located in Birmingham, Alabama. The school has a large population, and it awarded 41 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 70 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2021-2022.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
University of California - Berkeley landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking. UC Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 64 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Optometry Major ranking. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 68 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2021-2022.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies