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2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k

13 Ranked Colleges
1,666 Degrees Awarded
$23,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Optometry is the 193rd most popular major in the country with 1,666 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, optometry graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $83,824 and had an average of $167,326 in loans still to pay off.

At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,666 optometry graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,680 and $116,043 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 13 colleges that offer a degree in optometry. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent optometry programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the optometry program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Optometry Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 13 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Optometry (Income $0-$30k)

#1

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana University - Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 68 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree optometry students whose families make $0-$30k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full IU Bloomington Optometry Report

#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k list. UC Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 66 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also took the #2 spot in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of California - Berkeley Optometry Report

#3

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan
#16 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Ferris State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Ferris is a fairly large public school situated in Big Rapids, Michigan. It awarded 33 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.

Ferris also took the #16 spot in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ferris State University are $7,908.

Read full report on Optometry at Ferris

#12 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 63 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State also took the #12 spot in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Optometry at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#5

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#13 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Houston landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Houston is located in Houston, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 95 doctorate’s optometry degrees to qualified students.

UH also made our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #13. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Houston are $18,689.

Full UH Optometry Report

#6

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma
#19 in overall quality

Northeastern State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Northeastern State University is located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 28 doctorate’s optometry degrees to qualified students.

NSU also made our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #19. Average graduate tuition and fees at NSU are $10,600, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Northeastern State University Optometry Report

#7

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#18 in overall quality

University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large public school handed out 46 degrees to qualified doctorate’s optometry students in 2019-2020.

UMSL also took the #18 spot in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMSL are $30,154.

Read full report on Optometry at University of Missouri - St Louis

#8

University of Pikeville

Pikeville, Kentucky
#20 in overall quality

University of Pikeville came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UPIKE is a small school located in Pikeville, Kentucky that handed out 36 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.

UPIKE not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UPIKE are $8,100, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Optometry at University of Pikeville

#14 in overall quality

University of Alabama at Birmingham landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UAB is a large public school situated in Birmingham, Alabama. It awarded 41 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.

UAB also made our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #14. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Alabama at Birmingham are $19,188, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Optometry at UAB

#10

Pacific University

Forest Grove, Oregon

Pacific University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. This small school is located in Forest Grove, Oregon, and it awarded 91 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.

Pacific also made our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at Pacific are $35,325, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Optometry at Pacific University

#11

University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, Texas
#17 in overall quality

University of the Incarnate Word came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s optometry degrees to 59 students in 2019-2020.

UIW not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIW are $19,242.

Read full report on Optometry at UIW

#12

Nova Southeastern University

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Nova Southeastern University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. NUS Florida is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It awarded 87 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.

NUS Florida did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Nova Southeastern University are $22,242, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Optometry at Nova Southeastern University

#11 in overall quality

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 50 doctorate’s optometry degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree optometry students whose families make $0-$30k list, MCPHS University has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at MCPHS University are $23,280, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Optometry at MCPHS University

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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