Compare / New England (NECO) vs SUNY
New England (NECO) vs SUNY
New England College of Optometry in Boston, MA, and SUNY College of Optometry in New York, NY, 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) | SUNY |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Boston, MA | New York, NY |
| Type | Private | Public |
| Seats | 140 | 96 |
| Applicants per seat | 6.1 | 4.7 |
| Class GPA | 3.56 | 3.67 |
| Class OAT | 331 AA / 327 TS | 350 AA / 350 TS |
| NBEO ultimate pass rate | 79.3% (116 tested) | 89.9% (99 tested) |
| Tuition per year | $51,596 2026–27 | $32,200 resident, $53,230 nonresident (2026–27) |
| Living cost tier | Very high: $36,000 a year | Very high: $36,000 a year |
| Est. 4-year cost, out-of-state | $350,384 | $356,920 |
| OptomCAS deadline | Mar 31, 2027 | Mar 1, 2027 |
| Interview | One-on-one with a faculty member, on campus or virtual | Panel of two faculty members, on campus or virtual |
| Seat deposit | $1,000 | Not published |
| Letters | 2: non-relative optometrist + college faculty (science preferred) | 3: optometrist + science professor; committee letter recommended |
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: SUNY is higher at 89.9%, against 79.3% at New England (NECO).
- Class GPA: SUNY is higher at 3.67, against 3.56 at New England (NECO).
- Class OAT Academic Average: SUNY is higher at 350, against 331 at New England (NECO).
- Seats: New England (NECO) is higher at 140, against 96 at SUNY.
- Applicants per seat: New England (NECO) is higher at 6.1, against 4.7 at SUNY.
- Four-year cost, out-of-state: SUNY is higher at $356,920, against $350,384 at New England (NECO).
- In-state tuition: SUNY charges $32,200 a year to NY residents. New England (NECO) charges everyone the same rate.
- Public or private: New England (NECO) is private, and SUNY is public.
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
SUNY
- 90% ultimate pass rate
- Huge, diverse NYC patient base
- Many residencies
SUNY
- New York City living costs
Run Your Own Numbers
- Cost calculator for New England (NECO) and for SUNY, 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 · SUNY profile
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