Optometry graduates from Midwestern University-Downers Grove earn $142,092 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $267,742.
Optometry at Midwestern University-Downers Grove
Downers Grove, Illinois • Doctoral
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Optometry at Midwestern University-Downers Grove
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Midwestern University-Downers Grove and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Optometry at the doctoral 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. Completer counts for the most recent cohort are not currently reported for this program-school pairing.
Median graduate earnings of $142,092 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 $135,749 across all institutions offering Optometry, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at Midwestern University-Downers Grove, the mean median-earnings figure is $132,818, 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 Midwestern University-Downers Grove is $267,742, which translates to roughly $2,231 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.88 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Midwestern University-Downers Grove (this school) | $142,092 | $267,742 |
| Pacific University | $136,799 | $205,643 |
| Southern College of Optometry | $133,907 | — |
| Nova Southeastern University | $130,197 | $205,772 |
Other Programs at Midwestern University-Downers Grove
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $230,075 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $198,909 | $177,880 |
| Dentistry | $174,977 | $459,525 |
| Veterinary Medicine | $151,469 | $344,542 |
| Medicine | $145,060 | $355,209 |
| Optometry (current) | $142,092 | $267,742 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | $137,496 | $249,426 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $137,137 | $153,500 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $99,770 | $263,152 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $83,584 | $155,373 |
View all 13 programs at Midwestern University-Downers Grove →
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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.