Doctoral (Professional)+4% vs national median958 grads tracked
Optometry at SUNY College of Optometry
Ranked 2nd of 7 doctoral (professional) programs in Optometry by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$84,025
middle 50%: $59,371 – $117,111
Median · 5 years out
$124,636
middle 50%: $85,983 – $150,504
Median · 10 years out
$118,373
middle 50%: $75,215 – $157,212
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Optometry (doctoral (professional)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Optometry doctorate graduates at SUNY College of Optometry earn $84k initially. Ten-year median earnings stand at $118k.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
3.5 yrs
≈ $3,815 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Alabama at Birmingham
$135,976 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$120,596 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Saint Louis
$120,004 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$119,050 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$113,178 · 5 yrs out
Northeastern State University
$111,872 · 5 yrs out
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