All schools / Illinois College (ICO)
Illinois College of Optometry
Chicago, ILPrivateAccredited
- Passed all 3 boards
- 86.9% +4.4 vs U.S.
- Part I, first try
- 71.7% +4.9 vs U.S.
- Entering class GPA / OAT AA
- 3.59 / 334 125 seats, 5.6 applicants per seat
- Est. 4-year cost, out-of-state
- $301k $101k above the federal cap
Board results
99 graduates tested, Oct 2024–Sep 2025. Parts I–III are first-attempt pass rates; "All three" is the share who passed every part by graduation. The black line marks the U.S. rate.
Part I
71.7%
Part II
91.9%
Part III
80.8%
All three
86.9%
Admissions
- OptomCAS deadline
- May 1, 2027 (rolling admissions at most schools, so earlier is better)
- Class GPA
- 3.59
- OAT AA / TS
- 334 / 331
- Seats / applicants
- 125 / 703
- Supplemental fee
- None
- Letters
- 2: optometrist + science professor
- Other tests accepted
- DAT, GRE, MCAT case by case
- Bachelor's degree
- Strongly recommended
Cost
| Who | Tuition / yr | Est. 4-yr total | Tuition figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| All students | $50,300 | $301,200 | 2024–25 |
Totals add a moderate cost-of-living allowance of $25,000 a year and hold tuition flat. They leave out equipment ($4,000–$9,000 in years 1–2), board exam fees and annual increases. Build a full budget for Illinois College (ICO).
Strengths
- 87% ultimate pass rate
- Very large clinical volume
- Chicago location
Things to weigh
- Higher cost than the lowest-cost schools
Sources: ASCO NBEO Institutional Report 2024–25, ASCO Profile of the 2025 Entering Class, OptomCAS 2026–27 school information, and the school's tuition page. Last checked Oct 19, 2026. Methods and full source list.