100 Best colleges for Optometry in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 1.8M citations received by 75.6K academic papers made by 216 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: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

2. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Optometry

#2 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

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: $45,397

4. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Optometry

#5 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

5. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Optometry

#6 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

6. SUNY College of Optometry

New York State | New York City

For Optometry

#7 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 400
Male:Female: 23:77
Founded: 1971

7. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Optometry

#8 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

8. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Optometry

#9 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

9. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Optometry

#10 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

10. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Optometry

#11 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

11. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Optometry

#12 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

12. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Optometry

#13 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
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: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
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: $25,078

15. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Optometry

#16 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

16. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Optometry

#17 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

17. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Optometry

#19 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

18. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Optometry

#20 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

19. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Optometry

#21 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

20. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Optometry

#22 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

21. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Optometry

#23 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

22. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Optometry

#24 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

23. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Optometry

#25 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
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: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

25. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Optometry

#28 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

26. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Optometry

#29 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,942
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

27. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Optometry

#30 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

28. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Optometry

#31 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

29. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Optometry

#32 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

30. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Optometry

#33 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

31. New England College of Optometry

Massachusetts | Boston

For Optometry

#34 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 515
Male:Female: 25:75
Founded: 1894

32. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Optometry

#35 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

33. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Optometry

#36 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

34. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Optometry

#37 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $29,325

35. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Optometry

#38 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

36. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Optometry

#39 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

37. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Optometry

#40 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

38. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Optometry

#42 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

39. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Optometry

#43 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

40. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Optometry

#45 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

41. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Optometry

#46 in North America

#84 in the World

Enrollment: 2,549
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1943

42. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Optometry

#47 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

43. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Optometry

#48 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

44. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Optometry

#49 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

45. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Optometry

#50 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

46. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Optometry

#51 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

47. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Optometry

#52 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

48. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Optometry

#53 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,246
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1824

49. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Optometry

#55 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

50. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Optometry

#56 in North America

#115 in the World

Enrollment: 1,677
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1893

51. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Optometry

#57 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,261
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1963

52. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Optometry

#59 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

53. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Optometry

#60 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

54. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Optometry

#61 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,636
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

55. Illinois College of Optometry

Illinois | Chicago

For Optometry

#62 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 474
Male:Female: 26:74
Founded: 1872

56. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Optometry

#63 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

57. Marshall B Ketchum University

California | Fullerton

For Optometry

#64 in North America

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 653
Male:Female: 26:74
Founded: 1904

58. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Optometry

#65 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

59. Pacific University

Oregon | Forest Grove

For Optometry

#67 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $35,235

60. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Optometry

#68 in North America

#155 in the World

Enrollment: 4,938
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

61. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Optometry

#69 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

62. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Optometry

#70 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

63. Nova Southeastern University

Florida | Fort Lauderdale

For Optometry

#73 in North America

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $31,858

64. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

Pennsylvania | Hershey

For Optometry

#74 in North America

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

65. New York Medical College

New York State | Valhalla

For Optometry

#75 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,471
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1860

66. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Optometry

#77 in North America

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

67. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Optometry

#78 in North America

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

68. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Optometry

#80 in North America

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,786
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1959

69. Salus University

Pennsylvania | Elkins Park

For Optometry

#81 in North America

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 1,106
Male:Female: 20:80
Founded: 1919

70. University of Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Optometry

#82 in North America

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1035
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $11,113

71. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Optometry

#83 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

72. Florida College

Florida | Temple Terrace

For Optometry

#84 in North America

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1075
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $24,335

73. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Optometry

#85 in North America

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

74. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Optometry

#86 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 2,750
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1931

75. University of Nebraska Medical Center

Nebraska | Omaha

For Optometry

#87 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 3,988
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1869

76. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Optometry

#88 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

77. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Optometry

#89 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

78. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Optometry

#90 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,401

79. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Optometry

#91 in North America

#214 in the World

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

80. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Optometry

#93 in North America

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

81. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Optometry

#94 in North America

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

82. Albany Medical College

New York State | Albany

For Optometry

#95 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 814
Male:Female: 37:63
Founded: 1839

83. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Optometry

#96 in North America

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

84. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Optometry

#98 in North America

#233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

85. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Arkansas | Little Rock

For Optometry

#99 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 3,485
Male:Female: 25:75
Founded: 1879

86. CUNY City College

New York State | New York City

For Optometry

#100 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1250
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $9,763

87. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Optometry

#101 in North America

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

88. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Optometry

#102 in North America

#239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

89. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Optometry

#103 in North America

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

90. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Optometry

#104 in North America

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

91. University of Missouri - St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Optometry

#105 in North America

#249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

92. University of Missouri - Kansas City

Missouri | Kansas

For Optometry

#106 in North America

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 98%

93. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Optometry

#107 in North America

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

94. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Tennessee | Memphis

For Optometry

#108 in North America

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 3,101
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1911

95. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Optometry

#109 in North America

#257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

96. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Optometry

#110 in North America

#259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

97. Saint Louis University

Missouri | St. Louis

For Optometry

#111 in North America

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $27,749

98. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Optometry

#112 in North America

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

99. Northeastern State University

Oklahoma State | Tahlequah

For Optometry

#113 in North America

#264 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Average SAT: 1001
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 92%

100. Augusta University

Georgia | Augusta

For Optometry

#114 in North America

#276 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1055
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 93%

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.