Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

23 Best Universities in California for Optometry

We ranked the top 23 universities for Optometry in California based on strict academic metrics. Based on 3.16M scholarly articles and 161.63M peer-reviewed citations, we reveal the best research labs driving innovation in Optometry. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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1

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Optometry

#5 in United States #6 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

2

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Optometry

#8 in United States #9 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

3

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Optometry

#9 in United States #10 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

4

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Optometry

#13 in United States #14 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

5

Stanford

Stanford University

For Optometry

#14 in United States #15 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

6

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Optometry

#15 in United States #16 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

7

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Optometry

#30 in United States #33 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

8

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Optometry

#49 in United States #55 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

9

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Optometry

#95 in United States #109 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

10

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Optometry

#109 in United States #123 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

11

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Optometry

#139 in United States #156 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

12

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Optometry

#141 in United States #158 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

13

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Optometry

#213 in United States #236 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

14

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

For Optometry

#116 in United States #131 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

15

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Optometry

#167 in United States #185 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

16

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Optometry

#160 in United States #177 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

17

Fullerton

Marshall B Ketchum University

For Optometry

#57 in United States #64 in North America

23% Acceptance

530 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1904 Founded

18

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

For Optometry

#146 in United States #163 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

19

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

For Optometry

#180 in United States #200 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

20

Los Angeles

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

For Optometry

#159 in United States #176 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,144 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1966 Founded

21

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Optometry

#199 in United States #221 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

22

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Optometry

#201 in United States #223 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

23

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Optometry

#191 in United States #212 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded