Compare / New England (NECO) vs Pennsylvania (Drexel)
New England (NECO) vs Pennsylvania (Drexel)
New England College of Optometry in Boston, MA, and Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Drexel University in Elkins Park, PA, 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) | Pennsylvania (Drexel) |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Boston, MA | Elkins Park, PA |
| Type | Private | Private |
| Seats | 140 | 126 |
| Applicants per seat | 6.1 | 6.5 |
| Class GPA | 3.56 | 3.38 |
| Class OAT | 331 AA / 327 TS | 306 AA / 295 TS |
| NBEO ultimate pass rate | 79.3% (116 tested) | 81.5% (130 tested) |
| Tuition per year | $51,596 2026–27 | $51,560 2026–27; not yet confirmed on the school’s site |
| Living cost tier | Very high: $36,000 a year | Moderate: $25,000 a year |
| Est. 4-year cost, out-of-state | $350,384 | $306,240 |
| OptomCAS deadline | Mar 31, 2027 | May 1, 2027 |
| Interview | One-on-one with a faculty member, on campus or virtual | Faculty interview plus an admissions staff meeting, on campus |
| Seat deposit | $1,000 | $500 |
| Letters | 2: non-relative optometrist + college faculty (science preferred) | 3, or one committee letter |
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: Pennsylvania (Drexel) is higher at 81.5%, against 79.3% at New England (NECO).
- Class GPA: New England (NECO) is higher at 3.56, against 3.38 at Pennsylvania (Drexel).
- Class OAT Academic Average: New England (NECO) is higher at 331, against 306 at Pennsylvania (Drexel).
- Seats: New England (NECO) is higher at 140, against 126 at Pennsylvania (Drexel).
- Applicants per seat: Pennsylvania (Drexel) is higher at 6.5, against 6.1 at New England (NECO).
- Four-year cost, out-of-state: New England (NECO) is higher at $350,384, against $306,240 at Pennsylvania (Drexel).
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
Pennsylvania (Drexel)
- Large clinic network
- 3-year accelerated Scholars track
Pennsylvania (Drexel)
- Part I first-time pass rate of 59%
- Casper situational test required (2025–26 catalog; confirm for 2026–27)
Run Your Own Numbers
- Cost calculator for New England (NECO) and for Pennsylvania (Drexel), 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 · Pennsylvania (Drexel) profile
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