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Doctor's Degree in Optometry

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Doctor’s Degrees in Optometry

1,803 Yearly Graduations
$91,464 Median Salary
66% Women
There are 23 colleges and univerities across the nation that offer a doctor's degree in optometry. This degree is more popular with female students, and about 41% of recent graduates were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Also, 6.7% of optometry graduates were international students.

Education Levels of Optometry Majors

During the 2020-2021 academic year, 1,803 students earned their doctor's degree in optometry. This makes it the 15th most popular doctor's degree program in the country.

The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in optometry at each degree level.

Education Level Number of Grads
Doctor’s Degree 1,803
Graduate Certificate 19

Earnings of Optometry Majors With Doctor’s Degrees

The median salary for graduates holding a doctor's degree in optometry is $91,464. A lot of factors can contribute to this number, such as the location of your workplace and the availability of other perks and bonuses. A better approximation of salary is to look at the typical range of salaries. In this case the low is $86,653 and the high is $94,092.

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Student Debt

We do not have the data to calculate the median and range of debt loads for optometry students who are doctor's degree holders.

Student Diversity

More women than men pursue their doctor's degree in optometry. About 65.5% of graduates with this degree are female.

Gender Number of Grads
Men 622
Women 1,181
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The racial-ethnic distribution of optometry doctor’s degree students is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity Number of Grads
Asian 471
Black or African American 51
Hispanic or Latino 149
White 888
International Students 120
Other Races/Ethnicities 124
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There are 23 colleges that offer a doctor’s degree in optometry. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:

#1

Salus University

Elkins Park, Pennsylvania
166 Yearly Graduations
73% Women
46% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Salus University tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for optometry majors who are seeking their doctor's degree. Roughly 1,200 attend the school each year. The optometry program at Salus University awarded 166 doctor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 73% were women and 46% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#2

New England College of Optometry

Boston, Massachusetts
137 Yearly Graduations
75% Women
29% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 2nd most popular school in the country for optometry majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is New England College of Optometry. Each year, around 500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 137 doctor's degrees were handed out to optometry majors at New England College of Optometry. Around 29% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 75% were women.

#3

Southern College of Optometry

Memphis, Tennessee
134 Yearly Graduations
66% Women
22% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Southern College of Optometry comes in at #3 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in optometry. Each year, around 500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 134 doctor's degrees were handed out to optometry majors at Southern College of Optometry. Of these students, 66% were women and 22% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#4

Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago, Illinois
126 Yearly Graduations
65% Women
33% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Illinois College of Optometry is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in optometry. Each year, around 500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 126 doctor's degrees were handed out to optometry majors at Illinois College of Optometry. About 65% of this group were women, and 33% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#5

Nova Southeastern University

Fort Lauderdale, Florida
107 Yearly Graduations
62% Women
60% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Nova Southeastern University is the 5th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in optometry. Each year, around 20,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $33,510 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $21,153 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 107 people received their doctor's degree in optometry from NUS Florida. About 62% of this group were women, and 60% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#6

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
105 Yearly Graduations
63% Women
51% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Houston comes in at #6 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in optometry. Each year, around 47,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,685 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,713 per year. The optometry program at University of Houston awarded 105 doctor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 63% of this group were women, and 51% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#7

Marshall B Ketchum University

Fullerton, California
98 Yearly Graduations
69% Women
72% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Marshall B Ketchum University comes in at #7 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in optometry. Each year, around 700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 98 people received their doctor's degree in optometry from MBKU. About 69% of this group were women, and 72% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#8

SUNY College of Optometry

New York, New York
90 Yearly Graduations
70% Women
58% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 8th most popular school in the country for optometry majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is SUNY College of Optometry. Each year, around 400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 90 doctor's degrees were handed out to optometry majors at SUNY Optometry. About 70% of this group were women, and 58% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#9

Pacific University

Forest Grove, Oregon
88 Yearly Graduations
50% Women
28% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 9th most popular school in the country for optometry majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Pacific University. Roughly 3,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $48,928 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $35,909 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 88 doctor's degrees were handed out to optometry majors at Pacific. Of these students, 50% were women and 28% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#10

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
84 Yearly Graduations
64% Women
13% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Indiana University - Bloomington is the 10th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in optometry. Roughly 43,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,913 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,909 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 84 doctor's degrees were handed out to optometry majors at IU Bloomington. Around 13% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 64% were women.

75 Yearly Graduations
69% Women
63% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Western University of Health Sciences comes in at #11 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in optometry. Roughly 3,800 attend the school each year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 75 people received their doctor's degree in optometry from Western University of Health Sciences. Around 63% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 69% were women.

65 Yearly Graduations
63% Women
12% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Ohio State University - Main Campus comes in at #12 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in optometry. Each year, around 61,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,018 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,560 per year. The optometry program at Ohio State University - Main Campus awarded 65 doctor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 12% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 63% were women.

#13

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
64 Yearly Graduations
78% Women
67% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 13th most popular school in the country for optometry majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of California - Berkeley. Each year, around 42,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,442 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,442 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 64 doctor's degrees were handed out to optometry majors at UC Berkeley. Of these students, 78% were women and 67% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#13

University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, Texas
64 Yearly Graduations
69% Women
69% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 13th most popular school in the country for optometry majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of the Incarnate Word. Each year, around 7,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $31,800 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $18,540 per year. The optometry program at University of the Incarnate Word awarded 64 doctor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 69% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 69% were women.

#15

University of Pikeville

Pikeville, Kentucky
55 Yearly Graduations
51% Women
24% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Pikeville comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in optometry. Each year, around 2,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $22,500 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,370 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 55 people received their doctor's degree in optometry from UPIKE. Around 24% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 51% were women.

53 Yearly Graduations
68% Women
45% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in optometry. Roughly 7,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $34,700 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $22,950 per year. The optometry program at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences awarded 53 doctor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 68% of this group were women, and 45% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#17

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama
50 Yearly Graduations
82% Women
32% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 17th most popular school in the country for optometry majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of Alabama at Birmingham. Roughly 22,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,568 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,100 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 50 doctor's degrees were handed out to optometry majors at UAB. About 82% of this group were women, and 32% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#17

Midwestern University - Glendale

Glendale, Arizona
50 Yearly Graduations
46% Women
36% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Midwestern University - Glendale is the 17th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in optometry. Each year, around 3,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 50 people received their doctor's degree in optometry from Midwestern University - Glendale. Around 36% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 46% were women.

#19

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
47 Yearly Graduations
60% Women
9% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Missouri - St Louis is the 19th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in optometry. Each year, around 13,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $12,015 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,528 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 47 doctor's degrees were handed out to optometry majors at UMSL. Around 9% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 60% were women.

#20

Midwestern University - Downers Grove

Downers Grove, Illinois
41 Yearly Graduations
63% Women
24% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Midwestern University - Downers Grove is the 20th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in optometry. Roughly 2,900 attend the school each year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 41 doctor's degrees were handed out to optometry majors at Midwestern University - Downers Grove. Of these students, 63% were women and 24% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

Below are some popular majors that are similar to optometry that offer doctor’s degrees.

Major Annual Degrees Awarded
Medicine 28,623
Rehabilitation Professions 15,249
Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences 15,192
Dentistry 6,742
Chiropractic 2,658

References

*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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