2026 Best Value Optometry Schools
Looking for the best-value Optometry programs programs in the United States? This list ranks 25 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor reviewed schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Optometry Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Leading the list is Ferris State University, our #1 best-value Optometry school in the United States. Located in Big Rapids, MI, Ferris State University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,778 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,562 to complete their Optometry program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,735. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%. Get the full Ferris State University report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northeastern State University earned it the #2 place in the United States. This public school is set in Tahlequah, OK. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,810, while out-of-state students pay about $17,290. Students borrow a median of $23,465 to complete their Optometry program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,379 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,465 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted. See the full Northeastern State University profile
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Salus University earned it the #3 place in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Elkins Park, PA. See the full Salus University profile
Pikeville College came in at #4 on this year's best-value Optometry ranking in the United States. Located in Pikeville, KY, Pikeville College is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $24,850. Pikeville College Optometry students take on a median of $22,966 in debt. Median earnings reach $48,231 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Pikeville College
You'll get strong value at University Of Houston, which ranked #5 this year. Located in Houston, TX, University Of Houston is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Students borrow a median of $21,255 to complete their Optometry program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $62,377 ten years after entry. Set against $21,255 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%. More on University Of Houston
University Of The Incarnate Word came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Based in San Antonio, TX, University Of The Incarnate Word is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,090. The median Optometry program debt is $28,028. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,733 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%. Read the full report on University Of The Incarnate Word
University Of Alabama At Birmingham offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Birmingham, AL, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,098, compared with $22,562 for out-of-state students. University Of Alabama At Birmingham Optometry students take on a median of $26,162 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,501. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Alabama At Birmingham admits about 88% of applicants. Get the full University Of Alabama At Birmingham report
Suny College Of Optometry placed #8 among the best-value Optometry schools in the United States. Located in New York, NY, Suny College Of Optometry is a public institution. See the full Suny College Of Optometry profile
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Bloomington, IN, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Students borrow a median of $20,542 to complete their Optometry program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,742. Set against $20,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Bloomington has an acceptance rate of 78%. Get the full Indiana University Bloomington report
Pacific University offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Forest Grove, OR, Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,374. Typical Optometry student debt is $26,170. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $60,583. That is a strong return on a $26,170 median debt. Pacific University admits about 90% of applicants. More on Pacific University
Midwestern University Glendale ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Optometry schools. Based in Glendale, AZ, Midwestern University Glendale is a private not-for-profit institution. Read the full report on Midwestern University Glendale
University Of California Berkeley came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Berkeley, CA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. The median Optometry program debt is $14,238. University Of California Berkeley alumni report median earnings of $92,446 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. University Of California Berkeley has an acceptance rate of 11%. See the full University Of California Berkeley profile
Western University Of Health Sciences ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Optometry schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Pomona, CA. More on Western University Of Health Sciences
Midwestern University Downers Grove landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Downers Grove, IL, Midwestern University Downers Grove is a private not-for-profit institution. See the full Midwestern University Downers Grove profile
University Of Missouri St Louis came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Based in Saint Louis, MO, University Of Missouri St Louis is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,120 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,620. Students borrow a median of $25,943 to complete their Optometry program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $53,037. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 63% of those who apply are admitted. See the full University Of Missouri St Louis profile
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #16 among the best-value Optometry schools in the United States. Located in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete their Optometry program here. Ohio State University Main Campus alumni report median earnings of $60,409 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted. More on Ohio State University Main Campus
Nova Southeastern University offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,700. Typical Optometry student debt is $25,021. Median earnings reach $59,209 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $25,021 median debt. Nova Southeastern University admits about 73% of applicants. Read the full report on Nova Southeastern University
Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences placed #18 among the best-value Optometry schools in the United States. Set in Boston, MA, Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,530 in tuition and fees. The median Optometry program debt is $29,056. Median earnings reach $125,557 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%. More on Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences
Southern California College Of Optometry came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fullerton, CA. See the full Southern California College Of Optometry profile
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico School Of Optometry placed #20 among the best-value Optometry schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bayamon, PR. Read more about Inter American University Of Puerto Rico School Of Optometry
Illinois College Of Optometry landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Chicago, IL, Illinois College Of Optometry is a private not-for-profit institution. See the full Illinois College Of Optometry profile
New England College Of Optometry offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. More on New England College Of Optometry
Rocky Mountain University Of Health Professions came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Rocky Mountain University Of Health Professions report
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of North Carolina At Pembroke profile
Southern College Of Optometry came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Southern College Of Optometry report
Best Value Optometry Schools by Degree Level
See the best values at each degree level:
- Best Value Optometry Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Optometry Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Optometry Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Optometry Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Optometry Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Optometry Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Optometry Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 25 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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