Compare / Berkeley vs Pacific
Berkeley vs Pacific
UC Berkeley Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science in Berkeley, CA, and Pacific University College of Optometry in Forest Grove, OR, 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 | Berkeley | Pacific |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Berkeley, CA | Forest Grove, OR |
| Type | Public | Private |
| Seats | 69 | 90 |
| Applicants per seat | 6 | 3.9 |
| Class GPA | 3.76 | 3.49 |
| Class OAT | 360 AA / 360 TS | 321 AA / 313 TS |
| NBEO ultimate pass rate | 92.2% (64 tested) | 84.5% (71 tested) |
| Tuition per year | $43,886 resident, $56,641 nonresident (2026–27 fall and spring, tuition and campus fees; plus summer sessions) | $54,168 2026–27 |
| Living cost tier | Very high: $36,000 a year | Moderate: $25,000 a year |
| Est. 4-year cost, out-of-state | $370,564 | $316,672 |
| OptomCAS deadline | Dec 12, 2026 | Mar 1, 2027 |
| Interview | Two interviewers, semi-blind, virtual | Two college representatives, virtual |
| Seat deposit | $750 | Not published |
| Letters | 3: optometrist recommended; committee letter counts as 1 | 2: non-relative optometrist + college instructor |
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: Berkeley is higher at 92.2%, against 84.5% at Pacific.
- Class GPA: Berkeley is higher at 3.76, against 3.49 at Pacific.
- Class OAT Academic Average: Berkeley is higher at 360, against 321 at Pacific.
- Seats: Pacific is higher at 90, against 69 at Berkeley.
- Applicants per seat: Berkeley is higher at 6, against 3.9 at Pacific.
- Four-year cost, out-of-state: Berkeley is higher at $370,564, against $316,672 at Pacific.
- In-state tuition: Berkeley charges $43,886 a year to CA residents. Pacific charges everyone the same rate.
- Public or private: Berkeley is public, and Pacific is private.
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
Berkeley
- 92% ultimate pass rate
- Top research school
Berkeley
- Earliest deadline (Dec 12, 2026)
- Very high cost of living
- Bachelor's required
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
Run Your Own Numbers
- Cost calculator for Berkeley and for Pacific, 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.
- Berkeley profile · Pacific profile