Optometry School Acceptance Rates 2026
Acceptance rates for 23 ASCO-accredited US optometry schools, sorted from most to least selective.
23
With Data
18.0%
Most Selective
30.0%
Median
40.0%
Least Selective
Highly Selective (< 30%)
8 schools accept fewer than 30% of applicants.
| School | Accept % |
|---|---|
| UC Berkeley School of Optometry Berkeley, CA | 18% |
| University of Houston College of Optometry Houston, TX | 20% |
| The Ohio State University College of Optometry Columbus, OH | 22% |
| SUNY College of Optometry New York, NY | 22% |
| UAB School of Optometry Birmingham, AL | 24% |
| Indiana University School of Optometry Bloomington, IN | 25% |
| Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State Big Rapids, MI | 28% |
| Southern California College of Optometry Fullerton, CA | 28% |
Selective (30–50%)
| School | Accept % |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University Elkins Park, PA | 30% |
| Illinois College of Optometry Chicago, IL | 30% |
| Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry Pomona, CA | 30% |
| Pacific University College of Optometry Hillsboro, OR | 30% |
| University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry St. Louis, MO | 30% |
| New England College of Optometry Boston, MA | 32% |
| Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry Fort Lauderdale, FL | 32% |
| Midwestern University Chicago College of Optometry Downers Grove, IL | 33% |
| Midwestern University Arizona College of Optometry Glendale, AZ | 33% |
| Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry Tahlequah, OK | 35% |
| UIW Rosenberg School of Optometry San Antonio, TX | 35% |
| MCPHS University School of Optometry Worcester, MA | 35% |
| Southern College of Optometry Memphis, TN | 35% |
| University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry Pikeville, KY | 38% |
| Inter American University School of Optometry San Juan, PR | 40% |
Data Not Available
| School | Accept % |
|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain University College of Optometry Provo, UT | — |
| MCPHS School of Optometry Worcester, MA | — |
| Chicago College of Optometry Glendale, AZ | — |
| Pennsylvania College of Optometry Elkins Park, PA | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average acceptance rate for optometry schools in 2026?
Acceptance rates vary widely by tier. Top-ranked optometry schools often admit fewer than 10% of applicants, while regional programmes typically admit 30–60%. AdmitBase publishes the most recent acceptance rate for every ASCO-accredited optometry school in the table below, sourced from ASCO institutional data.
How is acceptance rate calculated?
Acceptance rate is the number of admitted applicants divided by the number of applications received, typically reported in each optometry school's annual ASCO disclosure. Yield (the percentage of admits who enrol) is reported separately. AdmitBase displays both metrics when available.
Are acceptance rates the best signal of admission difficulty?
Acceptance rate alone can mislead. A school with a 20% acceptance rate may be easier to get into than one with a 30% rate if its applicant pool is significantly stronger. OAT and GPA medians, not raw acceptance rates, are the best predictors of an individual applicant's chances. AdmitBase uses 50% OAT and 50% GPA to calculate personalised match scores.
How many optometry schools does this page cover?
This page lists acceptance-rate data for 23 ASCO-accredited optometry schools, refreshed annually after the latest ASCO disclosure becomes available.
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