Easiest Optometry Schools to Get Into

As an adult, becoming an eye specialist is a fantastic professional choice that may lead to a lucrative future. What are, however, the top optometry schools to attend?

Optometry may be a fascinating and enjoyable subject to study. As an optometrist, you will have the opportunity to help patients with vision problems and impairments, allowing them to receive the appropriate therapy and see properly once more.

How tough is it to get into a school of optometry?

Getting into optometry school is difficult but not impossible. In 2021, 74 percent of applicants to optometry schools in the United States were accepted, compared to 52 percent for dentistry.

For the majority of schools, an applicant must complete these steps to apply:

• Complete the OptomCAS application
• Complete the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) – some schools will accept GRE scores
• Submit your official transcript with your GPA and proof you have completed any prerequisite coursework
• Submit two letters of recommendation
• Complete an essay prompt
• Any program-specific requirements

Competitive applicants are often invited to an interview portion following a review of their application materials.

Average GPAs for optometry school applicants in 2021 were over 3.00; in fact, many optometry schools urge applicants to have a minimum GPA of 3.00. Average OAT scores range from 284 to 355.

If you have a poor GPA, optometry education may be difficult for you. However, if you’re a hard worker who has done fieldwork, has an outgoing personality, and has a long list of related extracurricular activities, you’ll have a good chance of getting in. Optometry is a people-oriented profession, therefore you might succeed even if you didn’t excel in all of your undergrad studies but are highly people-oriented and caring.

Start your applications as soon as possible (late summer or early fall) and make a schedule for when all components of the application are due.

Easiest Optometry Schools to Get Into

As previously said, optometry colleges are not easy to get into, and studying there necessitates a significant amount of effort. Therefore we picked a few of the easiest optometry schools to get into preferred by professionals, students and eventually based upon statistics.

However, tuition cost is the last factor we considered when we made a list therefore someone wanted to know the cheapest optometry schools exclusive of everything as listed below in the statistics section.

 These Statistics are:

• Average GPA
• Average OAT Score
• NBEO Pass Rate
• Tuition cost

We breakdown the list into state-wise and let you decide as per your location

ARIZONA

USA

Arizona College of Optometry, Midwestern University

• Average GPA: 3.41
• Average OAT Score: 319
• NBEO Pass Rate: 98.15%
• Location: Glendale, AZ
• Last Accreditation Date: 2013
• Tuition: $42,878 annually; one-time equipment fee of $5,014
• Multi-disciplinary Program or Optometry-only: Multi-disciplinary
• Residency Programs Offered: 5
• Undergraduate Degree Program (Joint Degree): Yes; Dual Acceptance Program with Benedictine University, DePaul University, Elmhurst College, and Arizona Christian University
• Graduate Programs Offered: No
• Date Founded: 2009

CALIFORNIA

USA

Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University

• Average GPA: 3.32
• Average OAT Score: 334
• NBEO Pass Rate: 94.74%
• Location: Fullerton, CA
• Last Accreditation Date: 2016
• Tuition: $42,885 annually
• Multi-disciplinary Program or Optometry-only: Multi-disciplinary
• Residency Program Offered: 26
• Undergraduate Degree Program (Joint Degree): No
• Graduate Programs Offered: OD/MS
• Date Founded: 1904

CALIFORNIA

USA

Western University of Health Sciences

• Average GPA: 3.17
• Average OAT Score: 300
• NBEO Pass Rate: 87.50%
• Location: Pomona, CA
• Last Accreditation Date: 2013
• Tuition: $40,890 annually
• Multi-disciplinary Program or Optometry-only: Multi-disciplinary
• Residency Program Offered: No
• Undergraduate Degree Program (Joint Degree): No
• Graduate Programs Offered: No
• Date Founded: 2009

ILLINOIS

USA

Chicago College of Optometry, Midwestern University

• Average GPA: 3.21
• Average OAT Score: 296
• NBEO Pass Rate: n/a
• Location: Downers Grove, IL
• Last Accreditation Date: Preliminary Approval 2016
• Tuition: $42,878 annually; one-time equipment fee of $5,014
• Multi-disciplinary Program or Optometry-only: Multi-disciplinary
• Residency Program Offered: No
• Undergraduate Degree Program (Joint Degree): Yes; Dual Acceptance Program with Benedictine University, DePaul University, Elmhurst College, and Arizona Christian University
• Graduate Programs Offered: No
• Date Founded: 2017

More: How to Become an Optometrist without a Degree

INDIANA

USA

Indiana University School of Optometry

• Average GPA: 3.58
• Average OAT Score: 317
• NBEO Pass Rate: 91.18%
• Location: Bloomington, IN
• Last Accreditation Date: 2013
• Tuition: First year tuition and fees: $55,776 for residents; $68,312 for non-residents
• Multi-disciplinary Program or Optometry-only: Optometry-only
• Residency Program Offered: 4 on-site; 7 affiliated
• Undergraduate Degree Program (Joint Degree): No
• Graduate Programs Offered: PhD, MS, MBA
• Class Size 2019: 85
• Date Founded: 1956

MASSACHUSETTS

USA

MCPHS University, School of Optometry

• Average GPA: 3.22
• Average OAT Score: 307
• NBEO Pass Rate: 75.41%
• Location: Worcester, MA
• Last Accreditation Date: 2018
• Tuition: $43,950 annually; $1,200 per semester equipment fee in first year, $1,040 per semester in second year
• Multi-disciplinary Program or Optometry-only: Multi-disciplinary
• Residency Program Offered: No
• Undergraduate Degree Program (Joint Degree): Yes
• Graduate Programs Offered: OD/MPH
• Date Founded: 2012

KENTUCKY

USA

University of Pikeville, Kentucky College of Optometry

• Average GPA: 3.31
• Average OAT Score: 296
• NBEO Pass Rate: n/a
• Location: Pikeville, KY
• Last Accreditation Date: Preliminary Approval
• Tuition: $42,200 annually
• Multi-disciplinary Program or Optometry-only: Multi-disciplinary
• Residency Program Offered: No
• Undergraduate Degree Program (Joint Degree): No
• Graduate Programs Offered: No
• Date Founded: 2016

PUERTO RICO

USA

Inter-American University of Puerto Rico

• Average GPA: 3.04
• Average OAT Score: 284
• NBEO Pass Rate: 78.05%
• Location: Bayamon, PR
• Last Accreditation Date: 2013
• Tuition: $27,500 annually
• Multi-disciplinary Program or Optometry-only: Multi-disciplinary
• Residency Program Offered: Yes
• Undergraduate Degree Program (Joint Degree): No
• Graduate Programs Offered: No
• Date Founded: 1981