UAB School of Optometry

Birmingham, ALPublicAccredited

Passed all 3 boards: 89.1%
Part I, first try: 76.4%
Entering class GPA / OAT AA: 3.71 / 329
Est. 4-year cost, out-of-state: $248k

Board results

55 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

76.4%

Part II

92.7%

Part III

78.2%

All three

89.1%

Admissions

OptomCAS deadline: Apr 1, 2027 (rolling admissions at most schools, so earlier is better)
Class GPA: 3.71
OAT AA / TS: 329 / 319
Seats / applicants: 55 / 461
Supplemental fee: $75
Letters: 3: optometrist + science faculty/pre-health; committee preferred
Other tests accepted: MCAT, DAT; others case by case
Bachelor's degree: Strongly preferred

Compare your GPA and OAT to this class

Cost

Who	Tuition / yr	Est. 4-yr total	Tuition figure
State residents (AL)	$31,645	$210,580	approx., derived from the published nonresident differential
Out-of-state	$41,012	$248,048	2025–26, with the merit award ~98% of nonresidents receive

Totals add a low cost-of-living allowance of $21,000 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 UAB.

Strengths

89% ultimate pass rate
Merit award sharply cuts nonresident tuition
Academic medical center setting

Things to weigh

Small class (55 seats) with 8.4 applicants per seat

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.