Optometry graduates from Illinois College of Optometry earn $133,895 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $240,830.
Optometry at Illinois College of Optometry
Chicago, Illinois • First Professional
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Optometry at Illinois College of Optometry
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Illinois College of Optometry and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Optometry at the first professional credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 139 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Illinois College of Optometry, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $133,895 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $129,758 across all institutions offering Optometry, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at Illinois College of Optometry, the mean median-earnings figure is $133,895, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Optometry graduates at Illinois College of Optometry is $240,830, which translates to roughly $2,007 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.80 is above the 1.0 threshold, meaning cumulative debt exceeds first-year post-completion earnings. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Optometry at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | $145,890 | $164,956 |
| Drexel University | $139,102 | — |
| Ferris State University | $138,837 | $144,874 |
| University of Missouri-St Louis | $138,537 | $167,750 |
| Indiana University-Bloomington | $134,609 | $177,626 |
| Illinois College of Optometry (this school) | $133,895 | $240,830 |
| University of the Incarnate Word | $133,498 | $238,257 |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | $132,661 | $175,334 |
| University of California-Berkeley | $130,333 | $151,667 |
| MCPHS University | $129,752 | $225,520 |
Other Programs at Illinois College of Optometry
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Optometry (current) | $133,895 | $240,830 |
Other Schools with Optometry
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About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.