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Optometry

Optometry graduates pursue 1 occupations, with top roles paying $136,570/yr or more. The career cards below break down wages, daily tasks, and 10-year job growth projections for each.

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About Optometry

This page covers Optometry as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Health and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Optometry is a focused area of study within Health. You will not have trouble finding it: 24 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 1,789 students complete it each year, most walking away with a certificate. Training is clinical and hands-on, often leading to licensure or certification.

Colleges Offering: 24
Graduates / Year: 1,789
Avg Net Price / yr: $20,373

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 1,789 students who complete Optometry programs each year, the majority (99%) earn a certificate degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

99%

Certificate 99%

Post-Master's Cert. 1%

What Can You Do With an Optometry Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Optometry graduates show up in 1 different occupations, and Optometrist pays the most at $136,570/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what an Optometrist earns and how fast the role is growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↗ +9.5% Zone 5: Extensive preparation

Optometrist

$136,570

$109K $165K 25th–75th pct.

Doctoral or professional degree 2,000 openings/yr 43K employed nationally

Critical Thinking Active Listening Reading Comprehension Writing Speaking

Day-to-day responsibilities

Diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system. Examine eyes and visual system, diagnose problems or impairments, prescribe corrective lenses, and provide treatment. May prescribe therapeutic drugs to treat specific eye conditions.

Examine eyes, using observation, instruments, and pharmaceutical agents, to determine visual acuity and perception, focus, and coordination and to diagnose diseases and other abnormalities, such as glaucoma or color blindness.
Analyze test results and develop a treatment plan.
Prescribe, supply, fit and adjust eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision aids.

Top Colleges for Optometry

Not sure where to study Optometry? These 12 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

Ranked by score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at Nova Southeastern University, and the rest follow the same measures.

#	College	Graduates	Acceptance	Net Price/yr	Earnings 10yr
1	Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FL · Nonprofit	132	73.2%	$30,371	$59,209
2	Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, IN · Public	96	78.2%	$16,264	$63,742
3	University of Houston Houston, TX · Public	92	73.9%	$14,276	$62,377
4	Pacific University Forest Grove, OR · Nonprofit	91	89.6%	$35,273	$60,583
5	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA · Public	78	11%	$13,481	$92,446
6	Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH · Public	62	60.6%	$17,339	$60,409
7	University of the Incarnate Word San Antonio, TX · Nonprofit	62	98.1%	$22,775	$56,733
8	Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Boston, MA · Nonprofit	56	85.2%	$39,545	$125,557
9	University of Missouri-St Louis Saint Louis, MO · Public	44	62.7%	$15,071	$53,037
10	University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL · Public	40	88.2%	$18,749	$54,501
11	Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI · Public	38	91.4%	$8,624	$54,735
12	Northeastern State University Tahlequah, OK · Public	27	99.6%	$12,710	$45,379

View all colleges

Ranked by Optometry graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of an Optometry program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if an Optometry degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Optometry Degree: Pros & Cons

The data on Optometry shows 1 measurable strengths and 3 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.

PROS

Fast-growing field Related careers are projected to grow up to +9.5% over the next decade, with Optometrist among the fastest-growing roles.

CONS

Licensure often required Most roles in this field require state licensure or certification before you can practice. Budget time and costs for board exams alongside your degree.
Advanced degree often expected Top roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Limited program availability Only 24 colleges offer this program nationally, which may limit geographic flexibility when choosing a school.

Optometry Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

What jobs can you get with an Optometry degree?

Optometrist is one path, and it pays a median of $136,570 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.

How long does an Optometry program take?

One to two years of full-time study for most Optometry certificates, and some community colleges get you through in a single semester. That makes it one of the fastest ways into the field.

How many colleges offer Optometry?

24 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.

What is the difference between Optometry and Health?

Optometry is the narrower of the two: Health covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Optometry-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.

What skills do employers look for in Optometry graduates?

Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Optometry graduates consistently look for clinical judgment, patient communication, and evidence-based decision-making. Licensure, certifications, and supervised clinical hours are typically required or strongly preferred in most roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.

Is graduate school worth it for Optometry graduates?

Often, yes. Advanced degrees in this field (nurse practitioner, physician assistant, doctor of physical therapy) typically come with significantly higher pay and a wider scope of practice, which is why most students in health fields eventually go back for one. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.