2026 Most Popular Optometry Schools
There are 25 colleges that offer a degree in Optometry. The most popular schools, by student demand, are below:
Finding the Best Optometry School for You
With all the Optometry programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendance, there are many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Most Popular Optometry Schools ranking. This report analyzed 25 schools in the United States to see which Optometry programs were the most popular. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school’s program.
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2026 Most Popular Optometry Schools in the United States
The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Optometry Schools.
Top 25 Most Popular Optometry Schools
Our 2026 rankings named Salus University the most popular school in the U.S. for Optometry majors. Salus University is a private nonprofit school located in Elkins Park, PA. This school awarded 145 degrees in Optometry in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $73,243. Read More…
Southern College of Optometry landed the #2 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Optometry Schools ranking. Southern College of Optometry is a private nonprofit school located in Memphis, TN. During the most recent year for which we have data, 135 people earned their degree in Optometry from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,669. Read full report on Optometry at Southern College of Optometry
New England College of Optometry landed the #3 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Optometry Schools ranking. New England College of Optometry is a private nonprofit school located in Boston, MA. This school awarded 133 degrees in Optometry in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,669. Read More…
Illinois College of Optometry comes in at #4 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Optometry majors. Illinois College of Optometry is a private nonprofit school located in Chicago, IL. This school awarded 121 degrees in Optometry in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $119,222. Full Optometry at Illinois College of Optometry Report
Nova Southeastern University landed the #5 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Optometry Schools ranking. Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL, this is a private nonprofit institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 108 people earned their degree in Optometry from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $66,811. Read full report on Optometry at Nova Southeastern University
Marshall B Ketchum University comes in at #6 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Optometry majors. Marshall B Ketchum University is a private nonprofit school located in Fullerton, CA. This school awarded 98 degrees in Optometry in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,669. Read More…
Western University of Health Sciences comes in at #7 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Optometry majors. Located in Pomona, CA, this is a private nonprofit institution. This school awarded 88 degrees in Optometry in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $75,498. Read More…
SUNY College of Optometry landed the #8 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Optometry Schools ranking. Located in New York, NY, this is a public institution. This school awarded 86 degrees in Optometry in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,669. Read More…
Pacific University comes in at #9 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Optometry majors. Located in Forest Grove, OR, this is a private nonprofit institution. This school awarded 85 degrees in Optometry in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $38,293. Full Optometry at Pacific University Report
University of Houston comes in at #10 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Optometry majors. University of Houston is a public school located in Houston, TX. During the most recent year for which we have data, 84 people earned their degree in Optometry from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $48,424. Read More…
Indiana University-Bloomington comes in at #11 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Optometry majors. Located in Bloomington, IN, this is a public institution. This school awarded 83 degrees in Optometry in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $48,621. Read More…
Ohio State University-Main Campus comes in at #12 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Optometry majors. Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public school located in Columbus, OH. This school awarded 68 degrees in Optometry in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $49,087. Full Optometry at Ohio State University-Main Campus Report
Midwestern University-Glendale comes in at #13 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Optometry majors. Located in Glendale, AZ, this is a private nonprofit institution. This school awarded 63 degrees in Optometry in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $77,154. Full Optometry at Midwestern University-Glendale Report
MCPHS University landed the #14 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Optometry Schools ranking. Located in Boston, MA, this is a private nonprofit institution. This school awarded 59 degrees in Optometry in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $74,892. Read More…
Midwestern University-Downers Grove landed the #15 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Optometry Schools ranking. Midwestern University-Downers Grove is a private nonprofit school located in Downers Grove, IL. During the most recent year for which we have data, 59 people earned their degree in Optometry from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $77,154. Read More…
University of Alabama at Birmingham comes in at #16 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Optometry majors. Located in Birmingham, AL, this is a public institution. This school awarded 58 degrees in Optometry in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $48,854. Read More…
University of the Incarnate Word landed the #17 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Optometry Schools ranking. Located in San Antonio, TX, this is a private nonprofit institution. This school awarded 58 degrees in Optometry in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $46,280. Read More…
University of California-Berkeley landed the #18 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Optometry Schools ranking. University of California-Berkeley is a public school located in Berkeley, CA. During the most recent year for which we have data, 55 people earned their degree in Optometry from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $57,445. Read More…
University of Pikeville comes in at #19 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Optometry majors. Located in Pikeville, KY, this is a private nonprofit institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 55 people earned their degree in Optometry from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $38,733. Full Optometry at University of Pikeville Report
University of Missouri-St Louis comes in at #20 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Optometry majors. Located in Saint Louis, MO, this is a public institution. This school awarded 41 degrees in Optometry in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $45,770. Full Optometry at University of Missouri-St Louis Report
Ferris State University landed the #21 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Optometry Schools ranking. Located in Big Rapids, MI, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 31 people earned their degree in Optometry from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $49,361. Read More…
Northeastern State University comes in at #22 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Optometry majors. Northeastern State University is a public school located in Tahlequah, OK. During the most recent year for which we have data, 28 people earned their degree in Optometry from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $42,572. Read full report on Optometry at Northeastern State University
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-School of Optometry comes in at #23 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Optometry majors. Inter American University of Puerto Rico-School of Optometry is a private nonprofit school located in Bayamon, PR. This school awarded 19 degrees in Optometry in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $40,669. Read full report on Optometry at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-School of Optometry
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions comes in at #24 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Optometry majors. Located in Provo, UT, this is a private for-profit institution. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $40,669. Full Optometry at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions Report
University of North Carolina at Pembroke comes in at #25 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Optometry majors. Located in Pembroke, NC, this is a public institution. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $35,639. Full Optometry at University of North Carolina at Pembroke Report
Optometry by Region
See the most popular Optometry schools in a specific region of the United States.
| Region |
|---|
| New England |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Great Lakes |
| Plains States |
| Southeast |
| Southwest |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Far Western US |
More Optometry Rankings
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this Most Popular Optometry Schools list, to help you choose the best school for you.
Majors Related to Optometry
Optometry Concentrations
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Optometry | 1,760 |
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Nursing | 311,372 |
| Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 99,987 |
| Allied Health Professions | 90,379 |
| Health/Medical Admin Services | 90,166 |
| Allied Health Services | 80,693 |
References
*The average salary above is for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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