- OD
- 25 schools
- Board pass rates
- True four-year cost
- Class GPA and OAT
- Deadlines, letters, fees
- Checked against the source, every cycle
Pick a line to see what's behind it. Every line is a link. The path from pre-optometry to OD, step by step. 25 accredited programs, Arizona (Midwestern) to Western U, in one table you can sort. 82.5% of graduates tested passed all of NBEO nationally (ASCO, NBEO 2024–25). $216k to $371k for four years at out-of-state tuition plus living costs, before scholarships. Accepted applicants averaged a 3.56 GPA (ASCO 2025 entering class profile). See how you compare. Every OptomCAS and school deadline for 2026–27 on one timeline. Every figure on FutureOD shows its source and a last-checked date.
See Every Optometry School Clearly Before You Apply.
All 25 accredited U.S. programs in one place: how their graduates do on boards, what four years actually cost, who gets in, and when applications are due.
Or compare all 25 in one table, or check your GPA and OAT against each class.
Data from ASCO, OptomCAS and each school's own pages. Last checked Nov 2, 2026.
Deadline Radar
- OptomCAS 2026–27 closes May 20, 2027. Most schools admit on a rolling basis, so earlier is better.
Where Are You Right Now?
Taking Prerequisites
Line your courses up with every school on your list, and start logging shadowing hours early. Both take longer than people expect.
- PrerequisitesThe core courses nearly every school wants, and the extras that differ by school.
- Low GPA, W's and RetakesHow OptomCAS counts repeated courses, withdrawals and post-bacc work, and where each school's class GPA lands.
- GPA CalculatorWork out your cumulative and science GPA the way OptomCAS weights credits.
All 6 Prerequisites Guides and Tools
- Switching to OptometryDegree rules and the MCAT, DAT and GRE options at every school, plus what to finish first.
- Shadowing and Optometry ExperienceHow many hours schools expect, how to find an optometrist to shadow, and what counts.
- Hours TrackerLog shadowing, work and volunteer hours with the details OptomCAS asks for.
Studying for the OAT
Know what's on the test, what score each school's last class averaged, and when to sit for it so scores arrive before you apply.
- The OAT, ExplainedWhat's on the Optometry Admission Test, how it's scored, what it costs and the rules for retaking it.
- What's a Good OAT Score?Entering-class OAT averages for every school, and what score to aim for.
- OAT Study PlanFree 8-week and 12-week OAT schedules, week by week, with what to study for each section.
All 7 The OAT Guides and Tools
- Which OAT Prep?The main OAT prep options side by side, what they cost, and which one fits your budget and study style.
- Practice vs. Real OAT ScoresWhat the ADA says about practice questions, how the real score is built and how to use practice tests without over-reading them.
- OAT Score TrackerLog practice and real scores and see how your latest sits against each school's class.
- Stats CheckerSee where your GPA and OAT sit against each school's entering class.
Applying This Cycle
OptomCAS is open until May 20, 2027, but most schools admit on a rolling basis, so applying early matters more than the deadline.
- School DatabaseSort all 25 programs by board results, cost, class stats or deadline.
- Deadline TimelineEvery school's OptomCAS deadline on one timeline, with how long you have left.
- OptomCAS Application TimelineMonth by month, from the OAT to your first interview, with every school's deadline.
All 14 Applying Guides and Tools
- OptomCAS WalkthroughThe five parts of the OptomCAS application, what each one asks for, and the limits and rules that trip people up.
- Application CostsWhat it costs to apply: the OAT, OptomCAS fees by number of schools, and every supplemental fee.
- Application ChecklistEvery step from prerequisites to interviews, with progress saved in your browser.
- Cost CalculatorBuild a four-year budget and see how much falls outside federal loans.
- Letters of RecommendationHow many letters you need, who should write them, and every school's requirement.
- The Personal StatementThe OptomCAS prompt, the 4,500-character limit, and how to write an essay that sounds like you.
- InterviewsWhat an optometry interview day looks like, the formats schools use, and every school's interview and deposit.
- Is It Too Late to Apply?How rolling admissions work, what slows an application down, and every school's deadline and decision timing.
- After the OfferHow long you have to accept, what a seat deposit costs, and each school's refund terms and decision timing.
- Offer Comparison WorksheetLine up each offer's scholarship, deposit and deadlines with its four-year cost.
- ScholarshipsAwards for applicants and enrolled students, each with its source and last-checked date.
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Deadlines, new school data and application tips, once or twice a month. Free, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
The New Federal Loan Cap Changes the Math
Starting July 1, 2026, Grad PLUS loans ended for new borrowers. Optometry students can now borrow at most $50,000 a year and $200,000 in total from the federal government. At out-of-state tuition plus a modest living budget, 25 of 25 programs cost more than that over four years.
Estimates use out-of-state tuition for public schools and a living allowance by cost-of-living tier, before scholarships. Residents of a public school's state pay less. Read the full guide or run your own numbers.
Guides for Every Step
- The OAT, ExplainedWhat's on the Optometry Admission Test, how it's scored, what it costs and the rules for retaking it.
- What's a Good OAT Score?Entering-class OAT averages for every school, and what score to aim for.
- Is Optometry Worth It?Four-year costs against what optometrists earn, with a calculator for your loans and pay.
- How to Pay LessState tuition programs, in-state public schools, merit awards and service scholarships that cut the bill.
- OptomCAS WalkthroughThe five parts of the OptomCAS application, what each one asks for, and the limits and rules that trip people up.
- InterviewsWhat an optometry interview day looks like, the formats schools use, and every school's interview and deposit.
Board Results Vary More Than Most Applicants Expect
Nationally, 82.5% of graduates passed all three parts of the NBEO boards in 2024–25, and only 66.8% passed Part I on the first try. School results ranged from 98.3% to 47.4%. A failed attempt costs a retake fee, months of extra study during clinic and a later start to your career, so this is the number to check first.