2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 1,666 people earned their degree in optometry, making the major the 193rd most popular in the United States. 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.

Across the Southeast region, there were 293 optometry graduates with average earnings and debt of $76,967 and $163,527 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 293 optometry graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,978 and $116,300 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 3 colleges that offer a degree in optometry. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality optometry programs that also have a lower cost than 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 3 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Optometry (Income $48-$75k) in the Southeast Region

#1

University of Pikeville

Pikeville, Kentucky

#3 in overall quality

$8,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 3 schools in the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pikeville landed the #1 spot on the list. UPIKE is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pikeville, Kentucky. The school has a small population, and it awarded 36 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UPIKE, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Pikeville are $8,100, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Optometry at University of Pikeville

#2

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama

#1 in overall quality

$19,188 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Alabama at Birmingham. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k. UAB is a large public school situated in Birmingham, Alabama. It awarded 41 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.

UAB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. 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 University of Alabama at Birmingham

#3

Nova Southeastern University

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

#2 in overall quality

$22,242 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

$99,069 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Nova Southeastern University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k. NUS Florida is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 87 doctorate’s optometry degrees to qualified students.

NUS Florida did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NUS Florida are $22,242.

Full NUS Florida Optometry Report

• Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Optometry (Income $48-$75k)

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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