100 Best colleges for Optometry in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 1.02M citations received by 59.3K academic papers made by 220 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

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

2. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Optometry

#2 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

3. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Optometry

#3 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

4. SUNY College of Optometry

New York State | New York City

For Optometry

#4 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 409
Male:Female: 24:76
Founded: 1971

5. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Optometry

#5 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

6. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Optometry

#7 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

7. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Optometry

#8 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

8. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Optometry

#9 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

9. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Optometry

#10 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

10. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Optometry

#11 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

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: 74%

12. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Optometry

#13 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

13. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Optometry

#15 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

14. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Optometry

#16 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

15. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Optometry

#17 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

16. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Optometry

#18 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

17. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Optometry

#19 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

18. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Optometry

#20 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

19. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Optometry

#21 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

20. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Optometry

#23 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

21. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Optometry

#24 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,610
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

22. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Optometry

#25 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

23. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Optometry

#26 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

24. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Optometry

#27 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

25. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Optometry

#28 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

26. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Optometry

#29 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

27. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Optometry

#30 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

28. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Optometry

#31 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

29. New England College of Optometry

Massachusetts | Boston

For Optometry

#32 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 536
Male:Female: 23:77
Founded: 1894

30. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Optometry

#33 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

31. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Optometry

#34 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,870
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

32. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Optometry

#35 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $11,830
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,182

33. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Optometry

#36 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

34. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Optometry

#37 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

35. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Optometry

#38 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

36. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Optometry

#40 in North America

#60 in the World

Enrollment: 2,354
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1943

37. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Optometry

#41 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

38. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Optometry

#43 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

39. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Optometry

#44 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

40. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Optometry

#45 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

41. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Optometry

#46 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

42. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Optometry

#47 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

43. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Optometry

#48 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

44. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Optometry

#49 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $28,110

45. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Optometry

#50 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

46. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Optometry

#51 in North America

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

47. University of Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Optometry

#52 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 985
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $7,544

48. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Optometry

#54 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

49. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

Pennsylvania | Hershey

For Optometry

#55 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

50. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Optometry

#56 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,253
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1963

51. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Optometry

#57 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

52. Marshall B Ketchum University

California | Fullerton

For Optometry

#58 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 685
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1904

53. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Optometry

#59 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

54. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Optometry

#61 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

55. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Optometry

#62 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,175
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1824

56. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Optometry

#63 in North America

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

57. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Optometry

#64 in North America

#132 in the World

Enrollment: 1,615
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1893

58. Illinois College of Optometry

Illinois | Chicago

For Optometry

#65 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 481
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1872

59. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Optometry

#66 in North America

#140 in the World

Enrollment: 5,354
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1972

60. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Optometry

#67 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

61. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Optometry

#68 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

62. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Optometry

#70 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,566

63. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Optometry

#72 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

64. Nova Southeastern University

Florida | Fort Lauderdale

For Optometry

#74 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $29,589

65. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Optometry

#75 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

66. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Optometry

#76 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

67. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Optometry

#78 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,931
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

68. Salus University

Pennsylvania | Elkins Park

For Optometry

#79 in North America

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 1,165
Male:Female: 20:80
Founded: 1919

69. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Optometry

#80 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,518
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1959

70. CUNY City College

New York State | New York City

For Optometry

#81 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $9,822
Enrollment: 14,489

71. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Optometry

#82 in North America

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 2,740
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1931

72. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Optometry

#83 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

73. Florida College

Florida | Temple Terrace

For Optometry

#84 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1065
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $21,360

74. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Optometry

#85 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

75. New York Medical College

New York State | Valhalla

For Optometry

#87 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,454
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1860

76. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Optometry

#88 in North America

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

77. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Optometry

#89 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

78. University of Missouri - St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Optometry

#90 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 97%

79. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Optometry

#91 in North America

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

80. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Optometry

#92 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

81. Pacific University

Oregon | Forest Grove

For Optometry

#93 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $33,472

82. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Optometry

#94 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

83. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Optometry

#96 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 88%

84. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Arkansas | Little Rock

For Optometry

#97 in North America

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 3,240
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1879

85. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Optometry

#98 in North America

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

86. Seattle University

Washington | Seattle

For Optometry

#99 in North America

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $35,412

87. University of Nebraska Medical Center

Nebraska | Omaha

For Optometry

#100 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 3,660
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1869

88. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Optometry

#102 in North America

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

89. Albany Medical College

New York State | Albany

For Optometry

#103 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 837
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1839

90. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Optometry

#104 in North America

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

91. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Optometry

#105 in North America

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

92. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Optometry

#106 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

93. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Optometry

#107 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

94. University of Missouri - Kansas City

Missouri | Kansas

For Optometry

#108 in North America

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1398
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 96%

95. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Optometry

#109 in North America

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

96. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Optometry

#110 in North America

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 3,361
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1891

97. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Optometry

#111 in North America

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Net Price: $26,197
Receiving Aid: 37%
Average Aid: $54,233

98. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Optometry

#112 in North America

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

99. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Optometry

#113 in North America

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,263

100. Mississippi State University

Mississippi | Starkville

For Optometry

#114 in North America

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

The best cities to study Optometry in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Baltimore, Cambridge, Berkeley, and New York.