Booster Prep

Optometry Admissions
Dentistry
Medicine
Dental Hygiene
Optometry
Casper
Admission Services
School Statistics
School StatisticsAdmission Services

Southern College

Admissions Statistics and Requirements for Southern College of Optometry

Background Information

  • Location: Memphis, Tennessee
  • Institution Type: Private
  • Mission Statement: To lead the profession by: • Educating the best possible healthcare providers; • Promoting lifelong learning and • Fostering a personal commitment to service.
  • Combined Degrees Offered: OD/MPH, OD/MBA
  • Year Opened: 1932
  • Number of Years to Earn Degree: 4
  • Campus Housing Available: No
  • Class Size: 140

Admission Statistics: (2024 Applicant and Entering Class Data)

Acceptance Rates by Location*:

Number of Applicants
Number of Enrollees
Enrollment Rate
Overall
660
140
21.21%
In-State
48
24
50.00%
Out-State
572
111
19.41%
International
40
5
12.50%

*According to data from ASCO

Academic Averages for Acceptance* :

OAT Academic Average
OAT Science Average
Cumulative GPA
339
332
3.68

*According to data from ASCO

Prerequisites

Prerequisite Course Work:

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

* There are some acceptable substitutions for specific courses. Go to https://www.sco.edu/prerequisite-courses for more information.

Community College Coursework and Advanced Placement Credit:
AP Credit Accepted?
Yes, AP credit is acceptable if documentation is provided on the undergraduate transcript or through official score reports. However, the admissions committee may recommend/require additional science coursework covering the AP credit based on overall academic performance and/or OAT scores.
Community College Coursework Accepted?
Yes

Minimum number of College Credit Hours required:

  • A minimum of 90 semester or 135 quarter hours. A minimum of 30 semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) must be completed at a four-year college or university.

Required Shadowing Hours:

  • There is no required minimum number of hours of shadowing, but 30 or more hours is preferred.

Letters of Recommendation: 

  • Two letters of recommendation are required: one from a pre-health advisor or natural science professor, and one from a non-relative Doctor of Optometry.

Supplemental Information:

Required Supplemental Application?
Supplemental Application Fee
CASPer Required?
Yes
$50
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
$45,902
$45,902
$515
85.8
Second Year
$45,902
$45,902
$255
-
Third Year
$45,902
$45,902
$255
-
Fourth Year
$45,902
$45,902
$390
-

*The 2025-2026 tuition for students is $45,902. Many students qualify for a state contract seat or a forgivable loan offered by their respective state. These awards are for a finite number of students from each state for each entering class. Check https://www.sco.edu/tuition-and-fees for more information.

**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
2024
81.34%
93.28%
91.79%
2023
75.18%
91.24%
87.59%
2022
85.00%
91.67%
79.17%
2021
87.88%
95.45%
82.58%
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