Compare / Indiana vs Ohio State
Indiana vs Ohio State
Indiana University School of Optometry in Bloomington, IN, and The Ohio State University College of Optometry in Columbus, OH, 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 | Indiana | Ohio State |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Bloomington, IN | Columbus, OH |
| Type | Public | Public |
| Seats | 92 | 69 |
| Applicants per seat | 6.2 | 8.2 |
| Class GPA | 3.78 | 3.86 |
| Class OAT | Not reported | 358 AA / 359 TS |
| NBEO ultimate pass rate | 72.7% (77 tested) | 98.3% (60 tested) |
| Tuition per year | $38,640 resident, $51,176 nonresident (2026–27 first year, tuition and fees) | $31,746 resident, $52,802 nonresident (2025–26) |
| Living cost tier | Low: $21,000 a year | Low: $21,000 a year |
| Est. 4-year cost, out-of-state | $288,704 | $295,208 |
| OptomCAS deadline | Jan 31, 2027 | Mar 1, 2027 |
| Interview | Not published | Not published |
| Seat deposit | Not published | $750 |
| Letters | 3: science professor required; committee letter counts as 1 | 3: optometrist + professor required |
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: Ohio State is higher at 98.3%, against 72.7% at Indiana.
- Class GPA: Ohio State is higher at 3.86, against 3.78 at Indiana.
- Seats: Indiana is higher at 92, against 69 at Ohio State.
- Applicants per seat: Ohio State is higher at 8.2, against 6.2 at Indiana.
- Four-year cost, out-of-state: Ohio State is higher at $295,208, against $288,704 at Indiana.
- In-state tuition: Indiana charges $38,640 a year to IN residents; Ohio State charges $31,746 a year to OH residents.
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
Indiana
- 92-seat class
- Low cost of living
Indiana
- Part I first-time pass rate of 52%
- Ultimate pass rate below the national figure
Ohio State
- Highest NBEO ultimate pass rate in the U.S. (98.3%)
- Lowest in-state tuition of any program
- Low cost of living
Ohio State
- Most selective school on the list (3.86 class GPA)
- On-site clinic does not offer shadowing
Run Your Own Numbers
- Cost calculator for Indiana and for Ohio State, 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.
- Indiana profile · Ohio State profile
Other Matchups
- Ferris State (MI) vs Ohio State
- Illinois College (ICO) vs Ohio State
- Illinois College (ICO) vs Indiana