Current Student Data Report Now Available

ASCO’s Annual Student Data Report for Academic Year 2014-2015 was released in April and updated in July. The report indicates that the total number of full-time students enrolled in the 21 professional OD programs in the 50 states and Puerto Rico was 6,797, an increase of 1.8% compared with the previous Academic Year and an increase of 16.5% compared with 2009-2010 (20 schools). The number of full-time first-year students in 2014-2015 was 1.6% less than in 2013-2014 and 6.7% more than in 2009-2010. Only one school reported more full-time male students than female students. The report also notes that the total number of graduates from the schools and colleges of optometry, both regular and special programs, increased 0.1% from 2013 (1,567) to 2014 (1,569).

In 2014-2015, the average tuition for a first-year resident student enrolled in a professional OD program was $21,489 at a public school and $33,014 at a private school. The average cost for all direct expenses (tuition, fees, books and instruments) for a first-year resident student was $28,854 for a public school and $38,429 for a private school. First-year non-residents were paying an average of $39,741 for tuition and $47,107 for all direct expenses at a public school, and an average of $34,271 for tuition and $39,686 for all direct expenses at a private school.

The full Annual Student Data Report, which includes several more categories of information, can be found on the ASCO website. For answers to questions about the report, e-mail Joanne Zuckerman, Manager, Data Services and Special Projects.