Booster Prep

Optometry Admissions

University of Missouri

Admissions Statistics and Requirements for University of Missouri at St. Louis, College of Optometry

Background Information

  • Location: St. Louis, Missouri
  • Institution Type: Public
  • Mission Statement: To promote and provide improved eye and health care for people throughout the country by preparing the next generation of optometrists and vision researchers.
  • Combined Degrees Offered: N/A
  • Year Opened: 1980
  • Number of Years to Earn Degree: 4
  • Campus Housing Available: Yes
  • Class Size: 50

Admission Statistics: (2024 Applicant and Entering Class Data)

Acceptance Rates by Location*:

Number of Applicants
Number of Enrollees
Enrollment Rate
Overall
348
50
14.37%
In-State
35
19
54.29%
Out-State
299
31
10.37%
International
14
0
0.00%

* According to data from ASCO

Academic Averages for Acceptance* :

OAT Academic Average
OAT Science Average
Cumulative GPA
311
292
3.52

* 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
4 / 6
General Physics
8 / 12
General Microbiology
4 / 6
Calculus
3 / 4
Statistics
3 / 4
English
6 / 9
Psychology
3 / 4
Liberal Arts/ Humanities
6 / 9
Community College Coursework and Advanced Placement Credit:
AP Credit Accepted?
Yes, if the credits were accepted by your undergraduate institution and appear on your undergraduate transcript.
Community College Coursework Accepted?
Yes

Minimum number of College Credit Hours required:

  •  Applicants must have completed 90 semester or 135 quarter hours prior to matriculation. The applicant cannot apply more than 60 semester hours (or 90 quarter hours) earned at a two-year institution toward the credit hour requirement.

Required Shadowing Hours:

  • A minimum of 20 hours is strongly recommended.

Letters of Recommendation: 

  • Three letters of recommendation: one from a practicing optometrist and the remaining two from anyone who can speck about you from a professional/ethical standpoint (e.g. an instructor, employer, club advisor, clergy, or coach).
  • They accept committee letters with the condition they include a letter from an optometrist.
     

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
$38,200
$63,080
$900
84.1
Second Year
$38,200
$63,080
$900
-
Third Year
$38,200
$63,080
$900
-
Fourth Year
$30,560
$50,464
$900
-

*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
73.17%
90.24%
68.29%
2022-2023
77.27%
86.36%
61.36%
2021-2022
86.49%
94.59%
72.97%
2020-2021
82.98%
89.36%
82.98%
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