100 Best colleges for Optometry in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Optometry. A graph of 1.67M citations received by 72.4K academic papers made by 221 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Optometry

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

2. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Optometry

#2 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

3. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Optometry

#3 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

4. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Optometry

#5 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

5. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Optometry

#6 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

6. SUNY College of Optometry

New York State | New York City

For Optometry

#7 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 394
Male:Female: 23:77
Founded: 1971

7. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Optometry

#8 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

8. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Optometry

#9 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

9. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Optometry

#10 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

10. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Optometry

#11 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 97%

11. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Optometry

#12 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

12. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Optometry

#13 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

13. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Optometry

#14 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

14. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Optometry

#15 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

15. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Optometry

#16 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

16. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Optometry

#17 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

17. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Optometry

#18 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,699
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1900

18. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Optometry

#20 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

19. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Optometry

#21 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

20. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Optometry

#22 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

21. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Optometry

#23 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

22. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Optometry

#24 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

23. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Optometry

#25 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

24. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Optometry

#27 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $11,577
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,900

25. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Optometry

#28 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

26. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Optometry

#29 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,877
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

27. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Optometry

#30 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

28. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Optometry

#31 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

29. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Optometry

#32 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

30. New England College of Optometry

Massachusetts | Boston

For Optometry

#33 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 529
Male:Female: 24:76
Founded: 1894

31. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Optometry

#34 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

32. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Optometry

#35 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

33. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Optometry

#36 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

34. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Optometry

#37 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

35. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Optometry

#38 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $29,097

36. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Optometry

#39 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

37. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Optometry

#40 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

38. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Optometry

#41 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

39. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Optometry

#42 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

40. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Optometry

#44 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

41. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Optometry

#46 in North America

#81 in the World

Enrollment: 2,501
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1943

42. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Optometry

#47 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

43. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Optometry

#48 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

44. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Optometry

#49 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

45. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Optometry

#50 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

46. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Optometry

#51 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

47. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Optometry

#52 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

48. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Optometry

#53 in North America

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,117
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1824

49. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Optometry

#55 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

50. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Optometry

#56 in North America

#117 in the World

Enrollment: 1,661
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1893

51. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Optometry

#57 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,234
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1963

52. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Optometry

#58 in North America

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

53. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Optometry

#60 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

54. Illinois College of Optometry

Illinois | Chicago

For Optometry

#61 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 483
Male:Female: 26:74
Founded: 1872

55. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Optometry

#62 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,667
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

56. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Optometry

#63 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

57. Marshall B Ketchum University

California | Fullerton

For Optometry

#64 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 686
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1904

58. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Optometry

#65 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,967

59. Pacific University

Oregon | Forest Grove

For Optometry

#66 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $34,809

60. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Optometry

#67 in North America

#146 in the World

Enrollment: 5,048
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

61. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Optometry

#69 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

62. New York Medical College

New York State | Valhalla

For Optometry

#71 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,470
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1860

63. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

Pennsylvania | Hershey

For Optometry

#72 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

64. Nova Southeastern University

Florida | Fort Lauderdale

For Optometry

#74 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $32,756

65. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Optometry

#75 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

66. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Optometry

#76 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

67. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Optometry

#78 in North America

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

68. University of Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Optometry

#79 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1060
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $8,833

69. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Optometry

#80 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,640
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1959

70. Salus University

Pennsylvania | Elkins Park

For Optometry

#81 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 1,148
Male:Female: 20:80
Founded: 1919

71. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Optometry

#82 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

72. Florida College

Florida | Temple Terrace

For Optometry

#84 in North America

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $23,885

73. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Optometry

#85 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 2,683
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1931

74. University of Nebraska Medical Center

Nebraska | Omaha

For Optometry

#86 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 3,786
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1869

75. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Optometry

#87 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 90%

76. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Optometry

#88 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,466

77. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Optometry

#89 in North America

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

78. Albany Medical College

New York State | Albany

For Optometry

#90 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 834
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1839

79. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Optometry

#92 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

80. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Optometry

#93 in North America

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,790

81. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Optometry

#94 in North America

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

82. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Optometry

#95 in North America

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

83. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Optometry

#96 in North America

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

84. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Optometry

#98 in North America

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

85. CUNY City College

New York State | New York City

For Optometry

#99 in North America

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1340
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,236

86. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Optometry

#100 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

87. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Arkansas | Little Rock

For Optometry

#101 in North America

#233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 3,275
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1879

88. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Optometry

#102 in North America

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

89. University of Missouri - St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Optometry

#103 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 100%

90. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Optometry

#104 in North America

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

91. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Optometry

#105 in North America

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

92. University of Missouri - Kansas City

Missouri | Kansas

For Optometry

#106 in North America

#239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

93. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Optometry

#107 in North America

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

94. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Optometry

#108 in North America

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

95. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Optometry

#109 in North America

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

96. Northeastern State University

Oklahoma State | Tahlequah

For Optometry

#110 in North America

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Average SAT: 1033
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 93%

97. Saint Louis University

Missouri | St. Louis

For Optometry

#111 in North America

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $30,911

98. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Optometry

#112 in North America

#256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

99. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Tennessee | Memphis

For Optometry

#113 in North America

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 3,121
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1911

100. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Optometry

#114 in North America

#264 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

The best cities to study Optometry in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Baltimore, Cambridge, Coral Gables, and Madison.