Optometry Applications Reaches All Time High

Optometry Applications Reaches All-Time High

The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) is happy to report that for the second year in a row, its U.S. institutions received the highest number ever of applicants during the 2024-2025 OptomCAS application cycle.

Optometric institutions collectively saw 2,897 applicants; the previous highest number of applicants was 2,868 in the 2023-2024 application cycle.

More noteworthy highlights include:

• The average number of applications per applicant was 4.33.
• The median age of applicants was 22 years old, with 73% female and 26% male. Less than 1% declined to state gender.
• The ethnicity breakdown for applicants was 42% White, 31% Asian, 13% Spanish/Hispanic/Latino/Latina, 5% Black/African-American, 4% Two or More Races, and less than 1% American Indian/Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander. Four percent of applicants did not report a race.
• The average overall cumulative GPA for all applicants was 3.45.

“It’s exciting to see record-breaking interest in optometry for the second year in a row,” said ASCO President Dr. Alicia Feis. “Our Optometry Gives Me Life campaign continues to resonate with STEM students, helping them discover the meaningful, balanced, and innovative career that optometry offers. With the launch of our Eye Opener Sessions, we’ve expanded our reach and deepened engagement, creating more opportunities for students to connect directly with passionate optometrists. We encourage more professionals to get involved and share their stories, reminding future applicants of the profound impact we make in our communities and the fulfillment this profession brings. We’re proud to welcome a new generation of talented applicants and look forward to growing the profession with high-quality future optometrists.”

Applicants apply through OptomCAS, the Optometry Centralized Application Service. OptomCAS launched in June for application cycle 2025-2026, and already the results are very positive. All 25 ASCO member schools and colleges in the U.S. participate in OptomCAS.

A full report on the 2024-2025 application cycle will be available by the end of the year. Visit www.optomcas.org or contact Paige Pence, ASCO Director of Student and Residency Affairs, at ppence@opted.org with any questions.