Enrollment in OD Programs Up 1.3%

Enrollment in OD Programs Up 1.3%

Full-time enrollment in the professional OD programs in the United States grew 1.3% to 7,339 in 2020-21, according to the 2020-21 Annual Student Data Report distributed in May 2021 by ASCO. 

The number of full-time first-year students increased 1.1% over last year and 7% over the past five years. The percentage of full-time female students moved from 68.3% to 68.5%; five years ago, the percentage was 67.1%. Every school reported more full-time female students than male students. There were an additional 132 students enrolled in part-time, alternate and special programs leading to the OD degree, down from 165 last year.

The percentages of full-time Black and Hispanic students remained largely unchanged from last year, but increased from 2.7% to 3.4% (Black students) and 5.6% to 7.2% (Hispanic students) from five years ago. The percentages of other underrepresented groups remain largely unchanged over the past five years.

The total number of graduates at the schools and colleges of optometry, both regular and special programs, increased just 0.2% from 2019 (1722) to 2020 (1725). Since 2015, there has been a 10.8% increase in graduates from regular and special programs.

In 2020-2021, the average cost for all direct expenses (tuition, fees, books and instruments) for a first-year resident student was $35,053 at a public school (an increase of 6.8% over last year) and $44,389 at a private school (an increase of 1.4%). First-year non-residents paid an average $51,557 for all direct expenses at a public school (an increase of 4.3%) and $46,080 for all direct expenses at a private school (an increase of 1.4%).

The complete Annual Student Data Report, which includes a number of additional categories of information as well as trends data, can be found on the ASCO web site.