Guides / Application Costs
What It Costs to Apply
The OptomCAS fee grows with every school you add, and several schools charge their own supplemental fee on top. Here is each cost we can source, with the totals worked out.
Last checked Nov 2, 2026.
The Short Version
Before any school's own costs, the OAT is $520 (see below) and OptomCAS starts at $190. Applicants last cycle applied to about 4.3 schools on average; at five schools, OptomCAS alone is $530. Supplemental fees are extra, and they vary from nothing to $75 per school.
OptomCAS Fees
OptomCAS charges $190 to apply to one school and $85 for each additional school. Fees aren't refunded for any reason, including a missed deadline.
| Schools | OptomCAS Total |
|---|---|
| 1 | $190 |
| 2 | $275 |
| 3 | $360 |
| 4 | $445 |
| 5 | $530 |
| 6 | $615 |
| 8 | $785 |
| 10 | $955 |
OptomCAS's own table runs from $190 for 1 school to $2,230 for all 25.
Supplemental Fees by School
Some schools send a supplemental application after OptomCAS and charge for it. Schools not listed here show no supplemental fee on OptomCAS's 2026–27 deadlines page (Arizona (Midwestern), Chicago (Midwestern), Detroit Mercy, Ferris State (MI), Illinois College (ICO), Incarnate Word, MCPHS, Nova Southeastern, Pacific, Pennsylvania (Drexel), Pikeville (KY), Puerto Rico (IAUPR), Rocky Mountain, Western U).
| School | Supplemental Fee |
|---|---|
| Berkeley | $66 |
| Houston | $50 |
| Indiana | $70 (supplemental due 2/15) |
| New England (NECO) | $30 |
| NSU Oklahoma | $75 |
| Ohio State | $60 (supplemental due 3/15) |
| SCCO/Ketchum | $50 |
| Southern (SCO) | $50 |
| SUNY | $40 |
| UAB | $75 |
| UMSL | $50 |
OptomCAS lists New England's fee as having waivers available. Ohio State charges $70 to international applicants. Confirm every fee with the school before you pay.
The OAT
The OAT was $520 for the testing year ending June 30, 2026, and includes score reports to every school you list when you register. We believe it is still $520 for 2026–27, but we couldn't confirm that on an ADA page, so check when you register. The ADA also offers a limited number of 50% fee waivers for applicants with financial need. Adding schools after you test costs extra. Full rules are in the OAT guide.
Optional OptomCAS Services
OptomCAS offers Professional Transcript Entry, where staff enter your coursework for you: $85 for up to 3 transcripts, $110 for 4 to 6 and $160 for 7 or more, on top of your application fees. It begins only after you submit and pay.
Costs We Can't Source
- Official transcripts: each college sets its own price. One university lists $8 per electronic transcript, but yours may differ.
- Interview travel, test prep and shadowing expenses: these depend on your choices, and we haven't found an official source. For prep prices, see which OAT prep to buy.
- Seat deposits after an offer: see offers, deposits and deadlines.
Plan Your Budget
Add up your own list in the application cost planner. Pick your schools first, since each one adds $85 plus any supplemental fee. The cost calculator covers the four years of tuition after you apply, and how to pay less covers ways to lower it.
Sources
- OptomCAS application fees
- OptomCAS deadlines and other information, 2026–27
- OptomCAS 2026–27 application walkthrough (University of Georgia pre-health advising)
- ADA, OAT 2026 Candidate Guide
- ADA, Optometry Admission Test
Requirements and dates change each cycle. Always confirm with each school before you apply.
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Keep Reading
- The OAT, ExplainedWhat's on the Optometry Admission Test, how it's scored, what it costs and the rules for retaking it.
- What's a Good OAT Score?Entering-class OAT averages for every school, and what score to aim for.
- Which OAT Prep?The main OAT prep options side by side, what they cost, and which one fits your budget and study style.
- OAT Study PlanFree 8-week and 12-week OAT schedules, week by week, with what to study for each section.