Compare / New England (NECO) vs Nova Southeastern
New England (NECO) vs Nova Southeastern
New England College of Optometry in Boston, MA, 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 | New England (NECO) | Nova Southeastern |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Boston, MA | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
| Type | Private | Private |
| Seats | 140 | 106 |
| Applicants per seat | 6.1 | 7.6 |
| Class GPA | 3.56 | 3.54 |
| Class OAT | 331 AA / 327 TS | 325 AA / 319 TS |
| NBEO ultimate pass rate | 79.3% (116 tested) | 80.2% (96 tested) |
| Tuition per year | $51,596 2026–27 | $44,508 2026–27, four-year track |
| Living cost tier | Very high: $36,000 a year | High: $30,000 a year |
| Est. 4-year cost, out-of-state | $350,384 | $298,032 |
| OptomCAS deadline | Mar 31, 2027 | Apr 1, 2027 |
| Interview | One-on-one with a faculty member, on campus or virtual | On campus or virtual |
| Seat deposit | $1,000 | $500 |
| Letters | 2: non-relative optometrist + college faculty (science preferred) | 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%.
Where They Differ
- Board pass rate: Nova Southeastern is higher at 80.2%, against 79.3% at New England (NECO).
- Class GPA: New England (NECO) is higher at 3.56, against 3.54 at Nova Southeastern.
- Class OAT Academic Average: New England (NECO) is higher at 331, against 325 at Nova Southeastern.
- Seats: New England (NECO) is higher at 140, against 106 at Nova Southeastern.
- Applicants per seat: Nova Southeastern is higher at 7.6, against 6.1 at New England (NECO).
- Four-year cost, out-of-state: New England (NECO) is higher at $350,384, against $298,032 at Nova Southeastern.
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
New England (NECO)
- Clinical exposure from year 1
- Boston location
New England (NECO)
- Very high cost of living
Nova Southeastern
- 80% ultimate pass rate
- Multi-site eye care institute
Nova Southeastern
- High cost of living
Run Your Own Numbers
- Cost calculator for New England (NECO) 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.
- New England (NECO) profile · Nova Southeastern profile
Other Matchups
- Houston vs New England (NECO)
- Houston vs Nova Southeastern
- Nova Southeastern vs Southern (SCO)
- New England (NECO) vs SUNY
- New England (NECO) vs Pennsylvania (Drexel)
- MCPHS vs New England (NECO)