Cheapest Optometry Schools

Schools of optometry in the United States date back to the early 1800s and have grown into a four-year professional degree program that is accredited by the Accreditation Council of Optometric Education (ACOE), which ensures that optometry education meets high standards. Optometry school graduates are entitled to sit for the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO), and most institutions provide their NBEO pass rates on their websites.

Due to the intensive hands-on and clinical requirements for degree completion, OD admissions are generally limited to 100-200 students.

Therefore the cost of this degree is quite high as compared to other Professional degrees, however, we compiled the list of cheapest optometry schools for relevant people to know about exactly what would be the minimum budget I have in my pocket if I go for this. however, the situation is different when we talked about the easiest optometry school to get into are in detail in a separate artilce.

Federal Financial Aid

You may consider completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Which is used by schools and banks to determine if you qualify for federal, student loans. Schools, and other funding opportunities, often require the filing of a FASA is also needed for any scholarship consideration. Prospective students may also want to research possible funding as suggested by the American Optometric Association (AOA) listing of resources.

Veterans, active military personnel, spouses, and dependents are all eligible.

Check to see whether your school provides military discounts if you are an active military member, spouse, dependent, or veteran. That information is frequently available on your school’s Financial Aid, Bursar, or Treasurer’s website.

SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has granted Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee, accreditation to offer a Doctor of Optometry degree. The institution, which was founded in 1932, offers a 9:1 student-to-teacher ratio, 32 residency programs (which outnumber all other national optometry colleges), and a 20-year student debt rate of 0%. For students from Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia, the school provides a restricted regional tuition scheme.

Coursework for this degree covers topics in ocular sciences (theory, anatomy, and physiology), evidence-based medicine, medical pathology, neuro eye diseases, systemic diseases, ocular manifestations, pediatric and adult primary care. The fourth-year requires clinical experiences and externships.

Program Length: 4 Years
Estimated Tuition Cost: $76,416 (Regional); $138,816 (Non Regional)

Relevant: How to Become an Optometrist without a Degree

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SCHOOL OF OPTOMETRY

A four-year Doctor of Optometry degree is available. The School of Optometry was founded in 1969 and has been accredited by the American Optometric Association’s Accreditation Council on Optometric Education for the last 40 years. US News & World Report has continuously put the University of Alabama in the top 200 of National Universities and the top 100 of Top Public Schools. The university, which is located in Birmingham, Alabama, currently has 18,000 students enrolled.

Courses are offered by the UAB School of Optometry as well as the Joint Health Service departments. Basic science and vision science will be covered in the early courses, such as optics, neurobiology, eye movements, gross anatomy, pediatric optometry, public health optometry, glaucoma, and so on. Clinical experiences will also be introduced to students. Clinical rotations on and off-campus take up the last year. This institution also offers a combined OD/MBA degree in optometry and business administration. UABSO also has an Optometry Residency program, which is one of the few in the country.

Program Length: 4 Years
Estimated Tuition Cost: $99,763 (Resident); $202,052 (Non Resident)

INDIANA SCHOOL OF OPTOMETRY

The Indiana School of Optometry, which is part of Indiana University, Bloomington, was founded in 1951 and is recognized by The Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), as well as the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. Indiana University has about 48,000 students and is ranked #86 in the National Universities rankings by US News & World Report.

This is a four-year Doctor of Optometry program that combines academics with clinical experience. Geometric and Visual Optics, Systems Approach to Biomedical Science, Ocular Biology, Clinical Sciences, Introduction to Epidemiology and Optometric Research, Ophthalmic, General Pharmacology, Clinical Sciences, Ocular Pharmacology, Contact Lenses, Ocular Diseases, and clinical experiences in Bloomington and Indianapolis are among the subjects covered in the curriculum. For admission, applicants must have 90 hours of college credit, with 20 of those hours in courses in the 300-400 level.

Length of Program: 165.5 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $102,834 (Resident); $152,978 (Non Residents)

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY

Students in this Doctor of Optometry program begin seeing students in the first year of study while studying coursework in Biochemistry for Optometry, General and Histological Anatomy, Geometric Optics, Ocular Anatomy, Ocular Physiology, etc.; and, participating in the fourth year In-House Internship and Externship. The OSU College of Optometry also provides a dual degree program with a Master of Science and OD diploma for those enrolled in the College of Optometry.

Accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association, the OSU College Of Optometry was established in 1907 by an assistant professor of physics with an interest in optics. The School of Optometry was created in the College of Arts and Sciences in 1935. Located in the Ohio capital city of Columbus, Ohio State University is ranked #54 in US News and World Report’s National Universities and #16 in its Top Public Schools listings.

Program Length: 4 Years
Estimated Tuition Cost: $103,584 (Resident); $124,630 (Non Resident)

 FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY MICHIGAN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY

This ACOE-accredited curriculum leads to a Doctor of Optometry degree that takes around 4 years to complete. The Regular Admissions Program and the 3+4 Admissions Program are the two entrance choices for this degree. According to the website, the Regular Admissions program needs a baccalaureate degree and pre-requisite courses. The 3+4 Admissions Program permits candidates to earn their bachelor’s degree in three years and four years of optometry school. Prerequisites for this option are also listed on the school’s website. Curricula for Michigan College of Optometry courses may be found at Michigan College of Optometry Courses.

As part of Ferris State University, the Michigan College of Optometry commenced courses in 1975. Ferris State University, situated in Big Rapids, Michigan, was founded in 1884 and now boasts a student body of over 14,000 students. According to US News and World Report, the institution is ranked #74 in Regional Universities, #42 in Best School for Veterans, and #18 in Top Public Schools. Ferris State University has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission in addition to the Michigan College of Optometry.

Program Length: 171 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $112,176 (Resident); $168,264 (Non Resident)