10 Best Optometry Schools In US

Optometry schools in the USA: Having seen an optometrist personally, I think this is among the greatest job options available to someone interested in a career in medicine.
Are you a student of medicine? Still uncertain about your area of specialization? To find out if optometry is the right job for you, read this article.

Any career that specializes in eye care should be addressed with particular caution because the eye is meant to be the body’s window to the outside world. As a consequence, we have created a ranking of the top optometry programs worldwide. For good purpose, graduate school in the medical sciences is quite challenging.

Irrespective of the area of medicine a prospective doctor chooses to concentrate in, we only want the finest of the best entering the workforce to work as a doctor. There is no room for error when it pertains to human health.

Despite this premise, while evaluating medical schools, success rates are infrequently taken into account. Exam results and grade point averages for students are important, as are research endowments, illustrious alumni, and alumni quality. But in the end, the majority of patients are only interested in the fundamental question: Did the person providing the therapy get a degree in medicine?

Having said that, let’s get started.

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10 Best Optometry Schools In US

Who is an optometrist?

Optometrists are medical professionals that diagnose and treat eye diseases such age-related macular degeneration, astigmatism, cataracts, glaucoma, eye injuries from accidents or infections, as well as refractive defects (nearsightedness or farsightedness).
The Best Optometry Schools provide students with a demanding course load at an affordable price
Prospective candidates should consider all elements of their potential education as well as their ability to pay for tuition before deciding which school is best for them.

Look into loan and financial aid options if you’re considering enrolling in an expensive program like optometry schools so that your hard-earned income may go toward anything other than student debt!

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Why is Optometry important?

Due to the importance of the eyes in our daily lives, optometrists are in high demand in contemporary society. Optometrists are taught how to use a range of techniques to assess a patient’s eyesight.

They also get knowledge on how to examine someone’s eyes to identify eye problems and offer therapy to enhance general health.

A prevalent issue as we age is a diminished ability to adjust our eyes to variations in light and distance. Optometrists are educated to help those who have vision problems or are developing them.

I thus bet you are already rethinking if this is a good job for you if you are asking that question.

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Is an optometrist a real doctor?

Many people ponder this subject to themselves. There is no ideal way to respond to this, yet the reality is both YES and NO.

Healthcare professionals who hold a Ph.D. in optometry from an accredited institution or college are known as optometrists. Attending one of these top US optometry colleges will help you achieve this.

However, due to their lack of training to handle life-threatening circumstances like surgery, they do not have the exact power as other medical professionals like surgeons or physicians.

As a result of their hands-on training in human anatomy and physiology, students at a few of the leading optometry schools in the country will be better equipped to treat patients who may need reconstructive surgery due to illness, injury, age-related macular degeneration, or other degenerative eye diseases.

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What are optometry schools In the USA?

1. Southern College of Optometry (Memphis, TN)

The outstanding Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee, comes in first place on our ranking of the top optometry schools in the United State.
The Southern College of Optometry is still in operation despite being founded in 1932.
The school has just added the newest technology to its buildings by expanding by $ 9.4 million. The Eye Center, an instructional institution that offers students practical clinical training while attending to the school’s 60,000 patients, is located also on site.  Naturally, virtually every one of the 136 students who enroll each year finishes the course of study, giving SCO a record achievement of 98.5 percent.

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Leading optometrists, notably fourteen American Optometric Association presidents, are alumni of COS. With a student-to-lecturers ratio of 9: 1 and more than 60 sponsored scholarships granted each year, it’s understandable why SCO students want to stay in school. Southern College of Optometry are receiving the support and care they require to excel as opticians in the nation.

Click here to visit the school’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE

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2. Arizona College of Optometry at Midwestern University – Glendale (Glendale, AZ)

Not only do 98 % of Arizona College of Optometry students succeed on their exams, but also 92.7 % and 100 % of students pass parts I and II of the NBEO test, respectively.

This outstanding set of students has an OAT score of 624 and an average GPA of 3.53. But these students are not successful on their own; they have the assistance of the esteemed staff and state-of-the-art research facilities at ACO.

The American Academy of Optometry’s staff, which is supported by grants like the most recent $100,000 award, is made up of authors for famous publications and other ACO members. To assist students become the best possible health care practitioners, the program also includes pre-clinical simulations and clinical placements in community hospitals activities outside of class.

However, because the admissions committee is looking for this, students should gain as much experience as they can working with an active optometrist.

Click here to visit the school’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE

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3. University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry (Birmingham, AL)

More than $325 million in research funding from the National Institutes of Health was given to UAB last year, the majority of which went to the School of Optometry.

With that kind of support, it should come as no surprise that UAB’s School of Optometry is one of the top in the industry.

By offering practical clinical training at the top-notch UAB Eye Care facility, the School of Optometry equips future eye care professionals with the knowledge and skills they’ll need to serve their community. These excellent tools are great news for people in the Birmingham area and beyond because the institution graduates 97.87 percent of program participants.

Along with providing excellent care for their patients, these doctors also carry on the excellent research of their alma institution by securing their own NIH grants while still undergraduates at the UAB School of Optometry.

Click here to visit the school’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE

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4. Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry (Davie, FL)

Students in the College of Optometry at Nova Southeastern University divide their attention between 2 years of scientific coursework and two years of clinical training.

Regardless of their subject of study, students receive great support from the university, which includes supporting international mission trips and providing cutting-edge technology to all enrollees. The school’s faculty also comprises eye test specialists and members of the American Academy of Optometry.

The NSU College of Optometry stands out for our ranking with a remarkable pass rate of 97.62 percent. According to these numbers, the university appears to be committed to “preparing, training and developing ophthalmologists to the greatest standards of competence, ethics, and professionalism.” A noteworthy group of optometrists are produced in Nova.

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Click here to visit the school’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE

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5. SUNY College of Optometry (New York, NY)

The State University of New York College of Optometry, established in 1971 and situated in New York City, is a pioneer in patient care, education, and research. It also grants the MS and PhD degrees in visual science. The College comprises 65 linked clinical training locations and a substantial program of fundamental, translational, and clinical research.

One of the most restrictive colleges on our list, SUNY only admits 23% of applicants to its optometry program. The institution maintains stringent standards for newcomers, requiring a GPA of 3.0 on average and an OAT score of 345 on average.

However, the majority of program participants graduate at the appropriate time, giving the institution a 96.84 percent success rate. Annual funding for research initiatives for program participants’ students is $4 million.

The American Optometric Association (AOA) 2019 Optometrist of the Year and the 2019 Johnson & Johnson Vision Award of Excellence in Contact Lenses winner Patient care are two of the outstanding optometrists from the SUNY College of Optometry’s 50-year history.

Click here to visit the school’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE

6. Ohio State University College of Optometry (Columbus, OH)

It should come as no surprise that the Ohio State University’s College of Optometry is well-regarded given that it is one of the biggest state colleges in the nation.

The faculty at the institution is made up of pioneers in optical technology, authors of the top medical journals in the nation, and the most accomplished members of the most illustrious faculty associations.

Major awards for students and academic staff include the Low Vision Educational Grant and the Prentice Medal Award for Distinguished Scientists.
Despite its focus on research, the OSU College of Optometry prioritizes its students, with a 96.83 percent success rate. The program’s state-of-the-art tools and approachable instructors are highly praised by current students, which is an impressive accomplishment for a school that only takes 64 pupils.

Click here to visit the school’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE

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7. University of Missouri at St. Louis College of Optometry (St. Louis, MO)

With a 31 percent admissions rate and a 95.65 percent pass rate, the UMiss-SL College of Optometry is clearly doing something great. To guarantee that the great majority of their students graduate, they seek out promising optometrists from all around the nation and help them all through the course. The school’s dedication to students is in line with its guiding values of development, responsibility, exploration, and community.

Students and professors have taken an active part in initiatives to expand access to affordable optical kits, variety and inclusion initiatives, and programs to enhance eye care for those who require it most in the community. Students who are interested in attending the UMiss-SL College of Optometry should prepare themselves with excellent letters of recommendation, volunteer hours, and exam scores.

Click here to visit the school’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE

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8. Illinois College of Optometry (Chicago, IL)

The school’s 92.54 percent success rate demonstrates its dedication to students, even if the bulk of the 160 yearly ICO alumni work in the field of optometry.

Undergraduate students can take practical courses at the Illinois Eye Institute. Additionally, ICO provides residency programs in a number of specialties, including as ophthalmology and vision rehabilitation.

A supportive and enlightening student population is produced as a result of these resources being housed on a lovely campus in the middle of Chicago. After all, the Midwest and Chicago’s top ophthalmologists come from ICO.

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Click here to visit the school’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE

9. UC Berkeley School of Optometry (Berkeley, CA)

The third institution in the US to have an optometry department, the UC Berkley School of Optometry was established in 1923. Over the years, the school has employed professors and graduates who have served as presidents of the American Optometric Association and the American Academy of Optometry.

The college promotes students who finish their degrees irrespective of the number of honors they get, as seen by the 92.54 percent success rate. This statistic is even more astounding when you take into account the excellent standard of education among the kids.

Patients are first exposed to optometry candidates in their first year, and they work with them for about 2,500 hours after they graduate.
The renowned Clinical Research Center and several other tools are available to help students further their research objectives

Click here to visit the school’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE.

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10. University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry (Pikeville, KY)

Since its establishment in 2016, the UPIKE College of Optometry has worked to improve the health of its neighborhood by educating aspiring physicians in a cutting-edge facility for the study of health professions that is worth more than $60 million.

The school also actively encourages potential students by offering a stipend to those who take the optometric admission exam, helping them with their costs. A whopping 38% of applicants are accepted by the UPIKE School of Optometry.

Despite this high number, the institution has a remarkable success record of 91.89 percent, demonstrating its dedication to giving its students the resources they require. These numbers demonstrate the commitment of the UPIKE College of Optometry to educating the future generation of vision professionals.

Click here to visit the school’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you are in the proper institution and have access to the appropriate study team to assist you to be extra hands-on with your studies, you may take on the task of studying to become an optometrist. However, if you found this post useful, please spread the word to your coworkers and leave a comment if you have any questions for our staff.

FAQS

How many optometry schools are there in the US?

23 schools
There are 23 schools and colleges of optometry in the United States and two in Canada.

How much does it cost to study optometry in the USA?

This does not include equipment fees and other costs, which can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. That said, optometry school tuition ranges greatly between programs, from $27,000 per year to nearly $70,000 per year.

Do you need the MCAT for optometry school?

How do you become an optometrist? After obtaining a bachelor’s degree and completing the necessary prerequisites, you will take the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT)—whereas for medical school you would take the MCAT

Is optometry hard to study?

Optometry school can be difficult, especially as a first-year student in a new city and new environment. Here are some tips to make it through. Optometry school is challenging enough. It is particularly difficult as a first-year student in a new environment and oftentimes a new city.

What is the average OAT score?

300
The OAT is scored based on the number of correct answers, therefore candidates are not penalized for guessing. The score ranges from 200 to 400 with a median score of 300 and a standard deviation of 40. A 320 is a very good score and a 350 is an excellent score representing approx.

Reference


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