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Optometry Admissions
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Chicago College

Admissions Statistics and Requirements for Chicago College of Optometry

Background Information

  • Location: Downers Grove, Illinois
  • Institution Type: Private
  • Mission Statement: To develop competent individuals who embrace lifelong learning through the pursuit of excellence in education, research, scholarship, and patient care for a diverse society. The College's educational programs emphasize and promote public health, leadership, ethics, professionalism, compassion, commitment, collegiality, and sense of community.
  • Combined Degrees Offered: OD/MPH, OD/MS
  • Year Opened: 2017
  • Number of Years to Earn Degree: 4
  • Campus Housing Available: Yes
  • Class Size: 63

Admission Statistics: (2023 Applicant and Entering Class Data)

Mean Age of First-Time, First-Year Enrollees: 23

Acceptance Rates by Location*:

Number of Applicants
Number of Enrollees
Enrollment Rate
Overall
612
63
10.3%
In-State
-
23
-
Out-State
-
36
-
International
-
4
-

*According to data from ASCO

Academic Averages for Acceptance* :

OAT Academic Average
OAT Science Average
Cumulative GPA
305
294
3.47

*According to data from ASCO

Prerequisites

Prerequisite Course Work:

Required Course
Credits
Required Lab
Biology
8 semester hours or 12 quarter hours
Yes
General/ Inorganic Chemistry
8 semester hours or 12 quarter hours
Yes
Organic Chemistry
4 semester hours or 6 quarter hours
Yes
Microbiology
3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours
No
Physics
6 semester hours or 9 quarter hours
No
Calculus
3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours
No
Statistics
3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours
No
English
6 semester hours or 9 quarter hours
No
Psychology
3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours
No

* There are some acceptable substitutions for specific courses. Go to https://catalog.il.midwestern.edu/admissions-12 for more information 

Community College Coursework and Advanced Placement Credit:
AP Credit Accepted?
All prerequisite courses must be completed with grades of C or better prior to matriculation. Only courses designed for science majors or pre-professional students are acceptable for the science prerequisites.
Community College Coursework Accepted?
All prerequisite courses must be completed with grades of C or better prior to matriculation. Only courses designed for science majors or pre-professional students are acceptable for the science prerequisites.

Minimum number of College Credit Hours required:

  • A baccalaureate degree form a regionally accredited institution is required.  

Required Shadowing Hours:

  • There is not a specific amount of shadowing hours required. 

Letters of Recommendation: 

  • Two letters of recommendation. One letter must be from a practicing optometrist. The other letter must be from a pre health advisor, a professor, an employer or an extracurricular activity advisor.

Supplemental Information:

Required Supplemental Application?
Supplemental Application Fee
CASPer Required?
No
N/A
No

Finances and Application Logistics

Financial Estimations for students starting Fall 2024:

Year
In-State Tuition
Out-State Tuition
Additional Fees
Cost of Living Score*
First Year
$48,423
$48,423
$5,590
108.1
Second Year
$48,423
$48,423
$798
-
Third Year
$48,423
$48,423
$798
-
Fourth Year
$48,423
$48,423
$798
-

*All cost of living scores are according to bestplaces.net and provide a rough estimate compared to the average of the United States (a score of 100 is considered average for the United States. Scores lower than 100 would indicate a cost of living lower than average. Scores above 100 indicate a cost of living higher than average).

Board Passage Rates for First Time Takers

Year
Part I Passage Rate
Part II Passage Rate
Part III Passage Rate
2022-2023
49.02%
72.55%
86.27%
2021-2022
68.18%
72.73%
93.18%
2020-2021
66.67%
91.11%
88.89%
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