How much does optometry school cost?

Optometry school can be quite expensive. The average tuition in the United States for in-state residents was $36,000 per year. 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.

This is why optometry student debt is so high: average student loan debt among optometrists is $134,199! That said, optometrists can also expect high salaries even in their first years out of optometry school, hastening their ability to pay off student loans.

Check out our student loan payoff calculator to see how long it will take you to pay off all your loans!

How many years is optometry school?

Optometry school generally takes four years to complete. However, some schools offer combined undergraduate and optometry degrees, either in agreement with other universities or at their home university. These 3+4 programs allow students to complete their undergraduate degrees in three years before entering optometry school.

Some optometry schools also offer accelerated degree programs, which are 36-month intensive programs. These programs are currently offered by New England College of Optometry and Salus University.

How difficult is it to get into optometry school?

Getting into optometry school is challenging but not prohibitive. In 2018, the acceptance rate to optometry programs in the United States was 74%, compared to the 52% acceptance rate of dentistry.

For the majority of schools, an applicant must complete these steps to apply:

Complete the OptomCAS application

Complete the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) - some schools will accept GRE scores

Submit your official transcript with your GPA and proof you have completed any prerequisite coursework

Submit two letters of recommendation

Complete an essay prompt

Any program-specific requirements

Competitive applicants are often invited to an interview portion following review of their application materials.

Average GPAs for optometry school applicants in 2018 were over 3.00; in fact, many optometry schools urge applicants to have a minimum GPA of 3.00. Average OAT scores range from 284 to 355.

If you have a low GPA, you might find optometry coursework challenging. However, if you’re a motivated worker, have done work in the field, have an outgoing personality, and a lengthy list of relevant extracurricular activities, you’ll definitely have a fair chance of getting accepted. Optometry is a very people-oriented profession, so even if you didn’t excel in all of your undergrad classes, but are very people-oriented and compassionate, you could still excel in optometry.

Start your applications early (late summer, early fall) and create a timeline for when all aspects of applications are due.