Booster Prep

Optometry Admissions

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: 62

Admission Statistics: (2024 Applicant and Entering Class Data)

Acceptance Rates by Location*:

Number of Applicants
Number of Enrollees
Enrollment Rate
Overall
770
62
8.05%
In-State
89
18
20.22%
Out-State
589
38
6.45%
International
92
6
6.52%

*According to data from ASCO

Academic Averages for Acceptance* :

OAT Academic Average
OAT Science Average
Cumulative GPA
319
308
3.5

*According to data from ASCO

Prerequisites

Prerequisite Course Work:

Required Course
Credits (Semesters/Quarters)
Required Lab
General Biology
8 / 12
General Chemistry
8 / 12
Organic Chemistry
3 / 4
General Physics
8 / 12
General Microbiology
3 / 4
Calculus
3 / 4
Statistics
3 / 4
English
6 / 9
Psychology
3 / 4

* 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 2025:

Year
In-State Tuition
Out-State Tuition
Additional Fees
Cost of Living Score*
First Year
$49,634
$49,634
$6,514
108.1
Second Year
$49,634
$49,634
$1,048
-
Third Year
$49,634
$49,634
$1,048
-
Fourth Year
$49,634
$49,634
$1,048
-

*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
2023-2024
63.16%
77.19%
84.21%
2022-2023
49.02%
72.55%
86.27%
2021-2022
68.18%
72.73%
93.18%
2020-2021
66.67%
91.11%
88.89%
Take your application to the next levelUse our expertise to give yourself the best shot achieving your dreams of becoming a dentist.
Footer bannerFooter banner