Compare / Pacific vs SCCO/Ketchum
Pacific vs SCCO/Ketchum
Pacific University College of Optometry in Forest Grove, OR, and Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University in Fullerton, CA, 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 | Pacific | SCCO/Ketchum |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Forest Grove, OR | Fullerton, CA |
| Type | Private | Private |
| Seats | 90 | 103 |
| Applicants per seat | 3.9 | 4.1 |
| Class GPA | 3.49 | 3.54 |
| Class OAT | 321 AA / 313 TS | 343 AA / 340 TS |
| NBEO ultimate pass rate | 84.5% (71 tested) | 93.3% (90 tested) |
| Tuition per year | $54,168 2026–27 | $55,380 2026–27 |
| Living cost tier | Moderate: $25,000 a year | Very high: $36,000 a year |
| Est. 4-year cost, out-of-state | $316,672 | $365,520 |
| OptomCAS deadline | Mar 1, 2027 | Mar 15, 2027 |
| Interview | Two college representatives, virtual | One-on-one with a faculty member, on campus |
| Seat deposit | Not published | $1,500 |
| Letters | 2: non-relative optometrist + college instructor | 2: optometrist + 1 of your choice |
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: SCCO/Ketchum is higher at 93.3%, against 84.5% at Pacific.
- Class GPA: SCCO/Ketchum is higher at 3.54, against 3.49 at Pacific.
- Class OAT Academic Average: SCCO/Ketchum is higher at 343, against 321 at Pacific.
- Seats: SCCO/Ketchum is higher at 103, against 90 at Pacific.
- Applicants per seat: SCCO/Ketchum is higher at 4.1, against 3.9 at Pacific.
- Four-year cost, out-of-state: SCCO/Ketchum is higher at $365,520, against $316,672 at Pacific.
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
Pacific
- Known for binocular vision and vision therapy
- 13 of 14 residency applicants matched in 2024–25
- Only 3.9 applicants per seat
Pacific
- One of the higher private tuitions
SCCO/Ketchum
- 93% ultimate pass rate
- Large, well-regarded clinical program
SCCO/Ketchum
- Highest estimated total cost on the list
Run Your Own Numbers
- Cost calculator for Pacific and for SCCO/Ketchum, 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.
- Pacific profile · SCCO/Ketchum profile