Compare / Houston vs Nova Southeastern
Houston vs Nova Southeastern
University of Houston College of Optometry in Houston, TX, and Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry in Fort Lauderdale, FL, side by side on the same measures. Schools are listed alphabetically, and neither is a pick from us.
Last checked Nov 2, 2026. Board results are NBEO 2024–25; class figures are the fall 2025 entering class.
| Measure | Houston | Nova Southeastern |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Houston, TX | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
| Type | Public | Private |
| Seats | 100 | 106 |
| Applicants per seat | 6.3 | 7.6 |
| Class GPA | 3.61 | 3.54 |
| Class OAT | 337 AA / 332 TS | 325 AA / 319 TS |
| NBEO ultimate pass rate | 84.0% (94 tested) | 80.2% (96 tested) |
| Tuition per year | $28,567 resident, $48,204 nonresident (2025–26 first year, rounded up by the school from $28,566.83; the resident per-credit rate is $704.55 for both 2025–26 and 2026–27 (UH tuition page, checked Oct 25, 2026). 2026–27 fees not yet published) | $44,508 2026–27, four-year track |
| Living cost tier | Moderate: $25,000 a year | High: $30,000 a year |
| Est. 4-year cost, out-of-state | $292,816 | $298,032 |
| OptomCAS deadline | Feb 28, 2027 | Apr 1, 2027 |
| Interview | On campus | On campus or virtual |
| Seat deposit | Not published | $500 |
| Letters | 2: academic mentor + optometrist (recommended) | 2: optometrist + science professor |
Four-year costs use out-of-state tuition for public schools, four years of flat tuition and a living allowance by tier, before scholarships. For the U.S. as a whole, the board pass rate is 82.5%.
Tuition figures are for the year each school last published; the years differ, so check the notes in the table before you compare them.
Where They Differ
- Board pass rate: Houston is higher at 84.0%, against 80.2% at Nova Southeastern.
- Class GPA: Houston is higher at 3.61, against 3.54 at Nova Southeastern.
- Class OAT Academic Average: Houston is higher at 337, against 325 at Nova Southeastern.
- Seats: Nova Southeastern is higher at 106, against 100 at Houston.
- Applicants per seat: Nova Southeastern is higher at 7.6, against 6.3 at Houston.
- Four-year cost, out-of-state: Nova Southeastern is higher at $298,032, against $292,816 at Houston.
- In-state tuition: Houston charges $28,567 a year to TX residents. Nova Southeastern charges everyone the same rate.
- Public or private: Houston is public, and Nova Southeastern is private.
Class averages aren't cutoffs and pass rates describe past graduates, not you. A higher number isn't a better school; it's a different one to weigh against what you want.
What Each School Page Notes
Houston
- 84% ultimate pass rate
- Strong research and residency programs
- OD/MS and OD/PhD options
Houston
- Part I first-time pass rate of 61%
Nova Southeastern
- 80% ultimate pass rate
- Multi-site eye care institute
Nova Southeastern
- High cost of living
Run Your Own Numbers
- Cost calculator for Houston and for Nova Southeastern, with your home state's tuition programs.
- Stats checker: where your GPA and OAT sit against both classes.
- Is optometry worth it? Test either school's cost against what optometrists earn.
- Houston profile · Nova Southeastern profile
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