Enrollment in OD Programs Up 1.0%

Enrollment in OD Programs Up 1.0%

Full-time enrollment in the professional OD programs in the United States grew 1.0% to 7,244 in 2019-20, according to the 2019-20 Annual Student Data Report published in May 2020 by ASCO. 

The number of full-time first-year students increased 2.8% over last year and 7.6% over the past five years. The percentage of full-time female students held almost steady, moving to 68.3% from 68.2%; five years ago the percentage was 66.1%. Every school reported more full-time female students than male students. There were an additional 165 students enrolled in part-time, alternate, and special programs leading to the OD degree, up from 161 last year.

The total number of graduates at the schools and colleges of optometry, both regular and special programs, increased 3.3% from 2018 (1667) to 2019 (1722). Since 2014, there has been a 9.8% increase in graduates from regular and special programs.

In 2019-2020, the average cost for all direct expenses (tuition, fees, books, and instruments) for a first-year resident student was $32,829  for a public school (an increase of 2.6% over last year) and $43,757 for a private school (an increase of 1.8%).  First-year non-residents paid an average $49,420 for all direct expenses at a public school (an increase of 2.3%), and $45,440 for all direct expenses at a private school (an increase of 1.8%).

The complete Annual Student Data Report, which includes several more categories of information as well as trends data, can be found on the ASCO website.