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What is a good OAT score?

There's no passing score on the OAT, so “good” depends on where you're applying. The clearest benchmark is each school's entering-class average.

Last checked Oct 19, 2026.

The short answer

Across all 23 schools that report OAT data, the average student who started optometry school in fall 2025 had an Academic Average of about 327 and a Total Science of about 320. School averages ranged from 300 to 360.

320–330 puts you near the middle of most entering classes.
345 or higher is above the average at every school except the three most competitive.
Around 300 is in range at the schools with the lowest averages, especially if your GPA is strong.

The 327/320 figures are our seat-weighted averages of each school's published class average, so larger classes count more. They describe students who enrolled, not every applicant.

Schools grouped by class average

350 and up: Berkeley (360), Ohio State (358), SUNY (350)
330–349: SCCO/Ketchum (343), Houston (337), Illinois College (ICO) (334), Ferris State (MI) (334), Arizona (Midwestern) (333), Southern (SCO) (332), New England (NECO) (331)
310–329: UAB (329), Nova Southeastern (325), Chicago (Midwestern) (324), NSU Oklahoma (323), Pacific (321), UMSL (318), MCPHS (310)
300–309: Rocky Mountain (307), Pennsylvania (Drexel) (306), Western U (303), Detroit Mercy (303), Pikeville (KY) (301), Incarnate Word (300)

Indiana did not report OAT averages for this class.

Every school's entering class

School	OAT AA	OAT TS	Class GPA	Seats
Berkeley	360	360	3.76	69
Ohio State	358	359	3.86	69
SUNY	350	350	3.67	96
SCCO/Ketchum	343	340	3.54	103
Houston	337	332	3.61	100
Illinois College (ICO)	334	331	3.59	125
Ferris State (MI)	334	328	3.71	37
Arizona (Midwestern)	333	327	3.69	72
Southern (SCO)	332	323	3.68	140
New England (NECO)	331	327	3.56	140
UAB	329	319	3.71	55
Nova Southeastern	325	319	3.54	106
Chicago (Midwestern)	324	317	3.54	63
NSU Oklahoma	323	315	3.68	28
Pacific	321	313	3.49	90
UMSL	318	304	3.50	46
MCPHS	310	302	3.28	59
Rocky Mountain	307	293	3.50	70
Pennsylvania (Drexel)	306	295	3.38	126
Western U	303	298	3.27	52
Detroit Mercy	303	291.5	3.46	35
Pikeville (KY)	301	288	3.52	60
Incarnate Word	300	280	3.36	74

Averages for students who entered in fall 2025, from ASCO.

Your OAT and GPA work together

Admissions committees read your OAT next to your grades. A high OAT can offset a GPA that's a little below a school's average, because it shows you can handle the science on a standardized test. A strong GPA can carry an average OAT the same way. Nationally, accepted applicants last cycle averaged a 3.56 cumulative GPA and a 3.45 science GPA.

Use the stats checker to see where your GPA and OAT fall against every school at once.

Should you retake?

A retake makes the most sense when your score is well below the averages at the schools you want and you can name what will be different next time, such as a section you didn't study enough. Keep in mind:

Schools see every attempt, not only your best.
You have to wait 60 days between attempts, which can push your application later in a rolling-admissions cycle.
A gain of 10–20 points is meaningful. A retake that lands in the same place adds little.

See the OAT, explained for the full retake rules.

Sources

Requirements and dates change each cycle. Always confirm with each school before you apply.

Keep reading

The OAT, explainedWhat's on the Optometry Admission Test, how it's scored, what it costs and the rules for retaking it.
The new federal loan capWhat the $200,000 limit on federal loans means for every school's cost.
OptomCAS application timelineMonth by month, from the OAT to your first interview, with every school's deadline.
Shadowing and optometry experienceHow many hours schools expect, how to find an optometrist to shadow, and what counts.