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Optometry Admissions
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Pacific University

Admissions Statistics and Requirements for Pacific University, College of Optometry

Background Information

  • Location: Forest Grove, Oregon
  • Institution Type: Private
  • Mission Statement: To prepare engaged learners to be highly competent practitioners, optometric leaders, and vision scientists through a diverse education while advancing professional and ethical eye care, scholarship, and service to the community.
  • Combined Degrees Offered: OD/PhD, OD/MS, OD/MEd, OD/MBA
  • Year Opened: 1945
  • Number of Years to Earn Degree: 4
  • Campus Housing Available: Yes
  • Class Size: 94

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
350
91
26.00%
In-State
-
19
-
Out-State
-
46
-
International
-
26
-

*According to data from ASCO

Academic Averages for Acceptance* :

OAT Academic Average
OAT Science Average
Cumulative GPA
328
318
3.55

*According to data from ASCO

Prerequisites

Prerequisite Course Work:

Required Course
Required Lab
Microbiology
Yes
Human or Vertebrate Anatomy
Yes
Human or Animal Physiology
Yes
General Chemistry Sequence
Yes
Organic Chemistry Sequence
Yes
General Physics Sequence
Yes
Calculus
No
Statistics
No
General Psychology
No
English
No

* There are some acceptable substitutions for specific courses. Go to https://www.pacificu.edu/optometry-od/admissions/prerequisite-worksheet#:~:text=A%20maximum%20of%208%2Dsemester,higher%20on%20the%20IB%20examination  for more information. Information regarding what the sequences entail can be found at the same website. 

Community College Coursework and Advanced Placement Credit:
AP Credit Accepted?
A maximum of 8-semester credits of AP or IB credit can be used toward the prerequisite requirements for applicants with qualifying scores. A qualifying score is a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement test or a 5 or higher on the IB examination. Credit will be accepted from any regionally accredited institution including universities and community colleges.
Community College Coursework Accepted?
A maximum of 8-semester credits of AP or IB credit can be used toward the prerequisite requirements for applicants with qualifying scores. A qualifying score is a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement test or a 5 or higher on the IB examination. Credit will be accepted from any regionally accredited institution including universities and community colleges.

Minimum number of College Credit Hours required:

  • Completion of a bachelor’s degree or fulfillment of prerequisite requirements for the bachelor’s degree completion option.

Required Shadowing Hours:

  • 10 hours of direct observation with an optometrist is strongly encouraged.

Letters of Recommendation: 

  • One letter of evaluation from a non-relative optometrist is required. One letter of evaluation from an instructor who has taught you in a graded course at the college-level is also required. Committee letters will be accepted as long as it includes the required letters of evaluation. Applicants who have been out of school for more than 2 years may submit a letter of evaluation from a direct supervisor or laboratory manager in lieu of a college instructor.

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
Tuition
Additional Fees
Cost of Living Score*
First Year
$50,569
$50,569
128.1
Second Year
$50,554
$50,554
-
Third Year
$50,554
$50,554
-
Fourth Year
$50,587
$50,587
-

*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
77.17%
94.57%
64.13%
2021-2022
74.71%
86.21%
85.06%
2020-2021
82.76%
94.25%
82.76%
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