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The SUNY College of Optometry welcomes applicants from all majors. Our students typically have graduated with an undergraduate major in the biological or natural sciences, but that is not a requirement for admission. If you are pursuing a non-science major, you must have fulfilled SUNY Optometry’s prerequisite course requirements before enrolling.
Although a four-year baccalaureate degree is highly recommended, students may matriculate after successfully completing three years (90 credits from a four-year college or university) of study.
We accept all courses completed within 10 years prior to submitting an application. This policy may be flexible under certain extenuating circumstances, including but not limited to, being a veteran and/or a recent, stellar OAT performance. If you would like to inquire whether courses taken over 10 years ago may be accepted, please submit a detailed letter explaining your circumstances to admissions@sunyopt.edu.
For a list of commonly accepted substitutions, please visit the Prerequisite Courses Required for Admissions page. If the course you are referring to is not listed, please email a brief course description along with credit hours and course title to admissions@sunyopt.edu.
SUNY College of Optometry accepts courses from community colleges and does not have a set limit of courses that can be taken at community colleges. The Admissions Committee encourages candidates who have taken prerequisite courses at 2-year colleges to take upper-division science courses at 4-year institutions.
SUNY Optometry does not limit the number of courses you can take at community colleges. We do recommend, however, that most of your science prerequisites be taken at a four-year college or university.
SUNY College of Optometry accepts non-science prerequisites completed online (Psychology, English, Calculus, and Statistics). For science-based prerequisites, the following guidelines apply for online completion. All online courses must be taken through a regionally accredited college or university.
Whenever possible, science-prerequisite courses and their lab components should be completed in a traditional, in-class format. However, exceptions may be granted under the following circumstances:
The institution does not offer the course or lab in a traditional in-person format.
The institution offers a lab component that closely emulates a hands-on experience.
Extenuating circumstances necessitate completing the science prerequisite online
While the OAT is our preferred exam, we do also accept the MCAT/DAT/GRE. When you apply, you may submit your OAT/MCAT/DAT/GRE scores on your OptomCAS application. We require that the exam have been taken within 2 years of the start of the application cycle.
SUNY Optometry uses a holistic review process, so there are many ways to be competitive. For any exam, we encourage students to strive for an excellent test score or aim for a 50th percentile or higher with 70th percentile being competitive.
You can take the OAT more than once. Your highest scores will be taken into consideration. If retaking the exam, a mandatory 60-day waiting period is required between attempts.
Scores older than two years by the beginning of the application cycle (July 1) will not be accepted.
There is no set amount of time required for your shadowing experience(s). We are more concerned with the quality of your experiences than with the quantity. The Admissions Committee is interested in gauging your knowledge regarding the expectations of the profession, your exposure to the different modes of practice and exposure to the different specialties within the field of optometry. We want to make sure that you have done your homework in exploring the profession and that you are confident that optometry is a profession that you are passionate about.
Email our admissions office and they will be glad to help you.
SUNY College of Optometry does accept international applicants. International students are welcome to apply and are considered through the same admissions process as domestic applicants. Historically, international students have comprised 2%-12% of each incoming class.
Applicants must meet all academic and prerequisite requirements for admission and demonstrate proficiency in English, as required by the College and SUNY policies. Accepted international students are typically sponsored for F-1 student visas and must comply with all U.S. immigration regulations, including documentation of financial support.
Ongoing support is provided to international students throughout the duration of the program to facilitate a smooth and seamless transition.
In addition to the application requirements for all incoming students, international students need to have their undergraduate records evaluated by World Education Services (except applicants from English-language, Canadian universities.) More information is available at World Education Services.
If English is not your first language and you have been in the United States for fewer than three years, or if the Admissions Committee requires it of you, you will be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A score of 81 (iBT) or greater is required. For more information, please visit TOEFL.
SUNY Optometry welcomes applications from out-of-state residents and international students. On average, seven percent of the incoming class is comprised of Canadian students.
SUNY Optometry does not offer financial aid for Canadian students. Canadian students applying for financial aid are required to contact the Canadian Student Loan Program (CANLearn) directly for information and applications.
To alleviate the costs associated with being an international student, SUNY Optometry awards the President’s Award for International Students (PAIS) for select outstanding international candidates based on academic and personal achievements exhibited on their application and interview.
As with any educational institution, the student experience varies greatly for each student. In general, however, students, faculty and staff are supportive and helpful to each other and students at SUNY learn in a collegial and comfortable environment. To get a better sense of the activities, culture and community of the College, visit the news section of our website or follow us on our various social media platforms.
The Office of Student Affairs and the Center for Teaching and Learning are committed to student success. We offer a range of academic support services to help you throughout your time here at SUNY. Our Learning Specialist can work with you to build effective study strategies, manage your time and workload, improve test-taking skills, and more. This resource is available to any student who wants to strengthen their study habits and set themselves up for success.
The Center for Teaching and Learning facilitates a peer-tutoring program to support students in their academic studies. The program offers students individual and small group tutorials, as well as peer-facilitated weekly review groups. Students are encouraged to seek tutoring services as soon as the need is recognized or if it is recommended by a faculty member.
Furthermore, there is a big and little program, where a current second year student gets paired to an incoming student to ensure transitioning into first year is a smooth process.
The Office for Student Affairs and the Center for Teaching and Learning offer personal and academic counseling to all students. Our in-house Licensed Mental Health Social Worker works with students to provide short-term mental health support services to support students in dealing with a wide range of personal difficulties. An additional referral service is also available for specific assistance within the New York City area. The Office of Accessibility and Enrichment also offers academic support.
SUNY College of Optometry provides disability support services in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Our Learning Specialist and Student ADA Liaison, in the Center for Teaching and Learning works with students to understand their needs and set up appropriate academic adjustments.
Yes, SUNY Optometry offers work study jobs to eligible students based on their FAFSA. Please contact the financial aid office to see if you are eligible. All jobs at SUNY Optometry pay $17 per hour, and an email will be sent out for job opportunities as they become available. Students can work up to 20 hours per week but on average they work 6-8 hours per week.
Additional job opportunities are available for students who do not qualify under the work study program based on departmental availability.
Absolutely. Community service is a core value at SUNY and the College is involved with a number of community service projects in the city. Additionally, many student organizations reach out to under served populations throughout New York City, across the country and around the world. For more information on student organization, please visit the Clubs and Organizations page on our website.
Most students leave their cars behind and navigate the city on foot and with the help of NYC’s massive, safe public transportation network. Eighteen of New York City’s 24 subway lines are located within a few blocks of the College.
SUNY Optometry offers incoming students all of the support that they need in order to find affordable, safe, and student-friendly housing. Although SUNY Optometry does not maintain housing facilities of its own, a Student Housing Committee is created each year to help incoming students with housing arrangements.
The Housing Committee is committed to supporting students throughout the summer as they navigate their move to New York City. We provide guidance on reputable rental platforms, help students understand the typical NYC rental process and requirements, and offer resources for connecting with potential roommates.
To make the search easier, we also host a roommate mixer featuring rapid‑fire introduction rounds, giving students the chance to meet several classmates quickly and identify potential matches.
These efforts reflect our dedication to ensuring every student’s transition to New York City is smooth, well‑informed, and fully supported.
Students are also encouraged to look for housing independently through the various private websites provided below:
Yes! In fact, New York City ranks among the safest large cities in the country, and the neighborhoods around the College are some of the safest in the city. Times Square has become a pedestrian- and family-friendly area. A clean and efficient transit system is safe to ride virtually anywhere you want to go.
For more information about New York City, visit our resources page.
The school also employs security officers to maintain a safe and secure campus environment, and all students and faculty use personalized ID badges to ensure that only members of the school community can access the building.
Students at the Upstate campus earn the same Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree awarded by SUNY College of Optometry. Both campuses follow the same curriculum, academic standards, and graduation requirements, ensuring a consistent educational foundation while allowing each campus to offer its own unique learning experiences.
No. All SUNY Optometry students graduate under the same program, and transcripts and diplomas do not distinguish between campuses. Your education is fully aligned with the main campus.
You’ll participate in live, real-time lectures delivered by NYC-based faculty and have opportunities to ask questions during class just like students in Manhattan. Faculty hold virtual office hours and make themselves available for one-on-one meetings or group review sessions as needed.
Yes. Upstate students have full access to SUNY Optometry’s academic support network — including academic and clinical coaching, advising, the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), and wellness resources — all of which can be accessed virtually. In addition, students will have in-person support options through services and resources available on the SUNY Upstate Medical University campus, providing both remote and on-site avenues for academic and personal support.
Students at the SUNY Optometry Upstate campus have remote access to all the College’s support services, including financial aid and debt management, mental health and personal counseling, career support, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) resources, registrar assistance, and services related to campus life. In addition, the Associate Director of Student Affairs at the Upstate campus helps ensure that programs and resources are effectively coordinated, communicated, and delivered to meet the needs of students locally.
The Upstate cohort is intentionally small, creating a close, collaborative learning environment. You’ll stay connected with the NYC class through shared live lectures and virtual discussions. Being located on the SUNY Upstate Medical University campus also gives you opportunities to engage with students from its four colleges — the College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Health Professions, and the College of Graduate Studies. Students have access to clubs and organizations at both SUNY Optometry and SUNY Upstate Medical University, providing a wide range of social, professional, and extracurricular opportunities.
You’ll complete your primary clinical training in Syracuse under the supervision of SUNY Optometry faculty. Clinical experiences take place at SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse Community Health, and other affiliated sites, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary care. Like all SUNY Optometry students, your fourth year consists of external clinical rotations, including one at the University Eye Center (UEC) in NYC. This provides exposure to SUNY Optometry’s full clinical patient base and a wide variety of patient care experiences.
Yes. Select microcredential programs offered by SUNY Optometry are available to students at the Upstate campus, allowing you to gain specialized skills and training that complement your Doctor of Optometry education.
Combined OD/MS degree programs are not currently offered at the Upstate campus. However, students do have the opportunity to collaborate with SUNY Optometry faculty on individual research projects, providing options to pursue specialized research interests alongside the Doctor of Optometry curriculum.
Students typically live in nearby apartments within walking distance or a short commute from campus. While there is no dedicated student housing, the area has many affordable options, and the school will provide local housing resources and neighborhood guides.
Studying at the SUNY Optometry Upstate campus offers the best of both worlds: a small, close-knit cohort where you can build strong connections with classmates and faculty, combined with full remote access to the broader SUNY Optometry community. Located in beautiful Central New York, Syracuse offers a lower cost of living, a welcoming and vibrant city environment, and plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation. Being on the SUNY Upstate Medical campus allows students to be fully integrated into a large, interdisciplinary healthcare environment, providing rich clinical and collaborative experiences. With a diverse regional patient population and a range of clinical opportunities, the Upstate campus offers an excellent setting to grow as a clinician while enjoying all the personal and professional benefits of life in Central New York.