2026 Best Value Optometry Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Optometry graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 25 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, 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 Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Leading the list is University Of California Berkeley, our #1 best-value Optometry school in the United States. University Of California Berkeley is a public school based in Berkeley, CA. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete their Optometry program here. Median earnings reach $92,446 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%. Read more about University Of California Berkeley
You'll get strong value at Pikeville College, which ranked #2 this year. See the full Pikeville College profile
A rank of #3 makes Midwestern University Glendale one of the best values in the United States. See the full Midwestern University Glendale profile
A rank of #4 makes Western University Of Health Sciences one of the best values in the United States. More on Western University Of Health Sciences
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Houston earned it the #5 place in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Houston
Midwestern University Downers Grove landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Midwestern University Downers Grove
Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. More on Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences
University Of Alabama At Birmingham placed #8 among the best-value Optometry schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Alabama At Birmingham report
University Of Missouri St Louis offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. See the full University Of Missouri St Louis profile
Northeastern State University offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Read more about Northeastern State University
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Ohio State University Main Campus report
University Of The Incarnate Word ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Optometry schools. More on University Of The Incarnate Word
Nova Southeastern University offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Get the full Nova Southeastern University report
Pacific University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Optometry schools. Read more about Pacific University
Rocky Mountain University Of Health Professions came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Rocky Mountain University Of Health Professions
Salus University
Salus University came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Salus University
Ferris State University came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Ferris State University
Illinois College Of Optometry ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Optometry schools. More on Illinois College Of Optometry
Southern California College Of Optometry ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Optometry schools. More on Southern California College Of Optometry
Suny College Of Optometry landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Suny College Of Optometry report
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. See the full Indiana University Bloomington profile
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico School Of Optometry landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Inter American University Of Puerto Rico School Of Optometry report
Southern College Of Optometry came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. More on Southern College Of Optometry
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. More on University Of North Carolina At Pembroke
New England College Of Optometry offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. Read more about New England College Of Optometry
Related Optometry Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Optometry Schools (All Levels)
- 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 Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Optometry Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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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