2026 Best Value Optometry Schools
Looking for the best-value Optometry programs programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 25 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree evaluated schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Optometry Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Ferris State University earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Set in Big Rapids, MI, Ferris State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,778. Graduates carry a median of $23,562 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,735 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ferris State University admits about 91% of applicants. Read more about Ferris State University
Northeastern State University came in at #2 on this year's best-value Optometry ranking in the United States. Located in Tahlequah, OK, Northeastern State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,810, with out-of-state students paying around $17,290. Typical Optometry student debt is $23,465. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,379 ten years after entry. Set against $23,465 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 100%. See the full Northeastern State University profile
Salus University came in at #3 on this year's best-value Optometry ranking in the United States. Based in Elkins Park, PA, Salus University is a private not-for-profit institution. Read more about Salus University
Pikeville College came in at #4 on this year's best-value Optometry ranking in the United States. Pikeville College is a private not-for-profit school based in Pikeville, KY. Students from in state pay about $24,850 in tuition and fees. Pikeville College Optometry students take on a median of $22,966 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $48,231. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Pikeville College profile
You'll get strong value at University Of Houston, which ranked #5 this year. Located in Houston, TX, University Of Houston is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Typical Optometry student debt is $21,255. Graduates go on to earn a median of $62,377 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Houston has an acceptance rate of 74%. Read more about University Of Houston
University Of The Incarnate Word offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Located in San Antonio, TX, University Of The Incarnate Word is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,090. University Of The Incarnate Word Optometry students take on a median of $28,028 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,733 ten years after entry. Set against $28,028 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%. More on University Of The Incarnate Word
University Of Alabama At Birmingham came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Set in Birmingham, AL, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,098, while out-of-state students pay about $22,562. Typical Optometry student debt is $26,162. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $54,501. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Alabama At Birmingham admits about 88% of applicants. Read the full report on University Of Alabama At Birmingham
Suny College Of Optometry placed #8 among the best-value Optometry schools in the United States. Suny College Of Optometry is a public school based in New York, NY. Get the full Suny College Of Optometry report
Indiana University Bloomington offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Indiana University Bloomington is a public school based in Bloomington, IN. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. The median Optometry program debt is $20,542. Indiana University Bloomington alumni report median earnings of $63,742 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $20,542 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%. Get the full Indiana University Bloomington report
Pacific University landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Forest Grove, OR, Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,374. Pacific University Optometry students take on a median of $26,170 in debt. Median earnings reach $60,583 ten years out. Set against $26,170 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pacific University admits about 90% of applicants. See the full Pacific University profile
Midwestern University Glendale placed #11 among the best-value Optometry schools in the United States. Based in Glendale, AZ, Midwestern University Glendale is a private not-for-profit institution. More on Midwestern University Glendale
University Of California Berkeley placed #12 among the best-value Optometry schools in the United States. Located in Berkeley, CA, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete their Optometry program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $92,446. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted. More on University Of California Berkeley
Western University Of Health Sciences came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Pomona, CA. Read more about Western University Of Health Sciences
Midwestern University Downers Grove came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. Located in Downers Grove, IL, Midwestern University Downers Grove is a private not-for-profit institution. Read the full report on Midwestern University Downers Grove
University Of Missouri St Louis ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Optometry schools. This public school is set in Saint Louis, MO. Students from in state pay about $15,120 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,620. Graduates carry a median of $25,943 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,037 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%. Read more about University Of Missouri St Louis
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #16 among the best-value Optometry schools in the United States. Located in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. The median Optometry program debt is $22,053. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,409 ten years after entry. Set against $22,053 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%. Read the full report on Ohio State University Main Campus
Nova Southeastern University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Optometry schools. Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Nova Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,700. Typical Optometry student debt is $25,021. Median earnings reach $59,209 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $25,021 median debt. About 73% of those who apply are admitted. More on Nova Southeastern University
Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Boston, MA, Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,530. Typical Optometry student debt is $29,056. Graduates go on to earn a median of $125,557 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences admits about 85% of applicants. More on Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences
Southern California College Of Optometry offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. Southern California College Of Optometry is a private not-for-profit school based in Fullerton, CA. Get the full Southern California College Of Optometry report
Illinois College Of Optometry landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. Illinois College Of Optometry is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. Read more about Illinois College Of Optometry
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico School Of Optometry ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Optometry schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bayamon, PR. Read the full report on Inter American University Of Puerto Rico School Of Optometry
New England College Of Optometry landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full New England College Of Optometry report
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. More on University Of North Carolina At Pembroke
Rocky Mountain University Of Health Professions offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Read the full report on Rocky Mountain University Of Health Professions
Southern College Of Optometry ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Optometry schools. Read more about Southern College Of Optometry
Best Value Optometry Schools by Degree Level
Explore value rankings for a specific degree level:
- Best Value Optometry Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Optometry Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Optometry Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Optometry Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Optometry Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Optometry Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Optometry Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 25 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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