First-Year Full-Time Enrollment in OD Programs Down 2.1%, Percentage of Black Students Increases

First-Year Full-Time Enrollment in OD Programs Down 2.1%, Percentage of Black Students Increases

Full-time, first-year enrollment in the 23 professional OD programs in the United States has decreased 2.1% in the past year, to 1,906, according to ASCO’s 2021-22 Annual Student Data Report. The decrease remains at 2.1% when including part-time students. Since 2016-2017, when there were 22 programs, the number of full-time first-year students has decreased 0.4%. When part-time students are included, the number has increased 0.4%.

Total full-time enrollment has decreased 0.7% in the past year, falling to 7,284. The decrease is also 0.7% when including part-time students. Over the past five years, full-time enrollment has increased 3.6%, while enrollment of both full and part-time students has increased 4.0%.

In 2021-2022, there were an additional 112 students enrolled in alternate or special programs leading to the OD degree, up from 101 last year and down from 114 five years ago.

The percentage of female full-time students moved from 68.5% to 69.8%; five years ago the percentage was 68.2%. Every school reported more full-time female students than male students in 2021-2022.

The percentage of full-time Black or African American students increased to 4.0% from 3.4% last year, and from 2.8% five years ago. The percentage of full-time Hispanic or Latino students increased to 7.8% from 7.2%, and from 6.2% five years ago. The percentage of full-time Asian students increased to 29.9% from 29.3%; five years ago the percentage was 29.7%. The percentage of White students decreased to 50.0% from 51.2%; and from 52.2% five years ago. The percentage of students classified as two or more races remained at 3.5%; five years ago it was 2.1%.

The total number of graduates at the schools and colleges of optometry, both regular and special programs, increased 4.8% from 2020 (1,725) to 2021 (1,807). In 2020 there were 22 schools awarding degrees and in 2021 there were 23. There are 8.5% more graduates from regular and special programs than in 2016 when there were 1,666 (when 21 schools awarded degrees). In 2021, 82.8% graduated with graduate/professional school debt averaging $191,591. This figure does not include undergraduate debt.

In 2021-2022, the average tuition for a first-year resident student enrolled in the professional OD program was $27,912 at a public school and $40,267 at a private school. The average cost for all direct expenses (tuition, fees, books and instruments) for a first-year resident student was $34,759 for a public school and $45,029 for a private school. First-year non-residents paid an average $44,363 for tuition and $51,210 for all direct expenses at a public school, and $41,965 for tuition and $46,727 for all direct expenses at a private school.

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.