Compare / Berkeley vs SCCO/Ketchum
Berkeley vs SCCO/Ketchum
UC Berkeley Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science in Berkeley, CA, 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 | Berkeley | SCCO/Ketchum |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Berkeley, CA | Fullerton, CA |
| Type | Public | Private |
| Seats | 69 | 103 |
| Applicants per seat | 6 | 4.1 |
| Class GPA | 3.76 | 3.54 |
| Class OAT | 360 AA / 360 TS | 343 AA / 340 TS |
| NBEO ultimate pass rate | 92.2% (64 tested) | 93.3% (90 tested) |
| Tuition per year | $43,886 resident, $56,641 nonresident (2026–27 fall and spring, tuition and campus fees; plus summer sessions) | $55,380 2026–27 |
| Living cost tier | Very high: $36,000 a year | Very high: $36,000 a year |
| Est. 4-year cost, out-of-state | $370,564 | $365,520 |
| OptomCAS deadline | Dec 12, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 |
| Interview | Two interviewers, semi-blind, virtual | One-on-one with a faculty member, on campus |
| Seat deposit | $750 | $1,500 |
| Letters | 3: optometrist recommended; committee letter counts as 1 | 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 92.2% at Berkeley.
- Class GPA: Berkeley is higher at 3.76, against 3.54 at SCCO/Ketchum.
- Class OAT Academic Average: Berkeley is higher at 360, against 343 at SCCO/Ketchum.
- Seats: SCCO/Ketchum is higher at 103, against 69 at Berkeley.
- Applicants per seat: Berkeley is higher at 6, against 4.1 at SCCO/Ketchum.
- Four-year cost, out-of-state: Berkeley is higher at $370,564, against $365,520 at SCCO/Ketchum.
- In-state tuition: Berkeley charges $43,886 a year to CA residents. SCCO/Ketchum charges everyone the same rate.
- Public or private: Berkeley is public, and SCCO/Ketchum 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
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 Berkeley 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.
- Berkeley profile · SCCO/Ketchum profile