1245 Madison Avenue
Memphis, Tennessee 38104
Phone: 901-722-3224 or 800-238-0180
Email: admissions@sco.edu http://www.sco.edu
The Southern College of Optometry located in Memphis, Tennessee was founded in 1932 and is one of the few private schools. The school boasts educating 10 optometrists who have held president positions for the American Optometric Association. The school has excellent facilities including the new Eye Center, and has relations with several clinics regionally. Students can obtain a Doctor of Optometry degree by passing the 4-year program.
The Southern College of Optometry is very competitive, and has had ratios of 5:1 and 8:1 for applications versus entering students. The college recommends students with an OAT score lower than 310 to retake the test, and those with a mean GPA under 2.5 and an OAT score under 320 are advised to call the school to discuss their competitiveness. The profile for the 2011 entering class consisted of 865 applicants, with 130 matriculants. Out of these 130 enrolled students, 129 had Bachelor’s degrees or better and the average GPA and OAT score were 3.53 and 326.
Tuition
The tuition for the Southern College of Optometry is a little more complex due to the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), which offers lower tuition rates to students in participating states. The tuition for the 2011-2012 academic year for residents of Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia was $18,778 per year. This comes out to a total of about $75,152 for the 4 years of the program. For residents of Kansas, the tuition was $20,978 per year for a total of about $83,912. For non-regional students, the tuition was $26,178 for the first year. Please check the school for updated and accurate tuition and fees.
Education Requirements
The Southern College of Optometry does not require applicants to have a Bachelors degree, but gives preference to those that do. Applicants are required to have at least 90 semester hours from an accredited institution that meets the pre-optometry course sequence of the college. These courses include English, General Psychology, Calculus, Biology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and a few others.
Admissions Checklist
School of Optometry Application- OptomCAS + SCO’s Optometry supplemental
Essay/Personal Statement
Official academic transcripts
OAT Scores
Letters of recommendation
2011 Entering Class Profile
Total Applications: 865
# of Residents Applied: 39
# of Non-residents Applied:826
Number of Applicants Accepted: 246
# of Residents Accepted: 20
# of Non-residents Accepted:226
Number of Students Enrolled: 130
# of Enrolled with Bachelors degree: 129
# of Males Enrolled: 60
# of Females Enrolled: 70
# of States Represented: 33
Overall Average GPA: 3.53
Average OAT AA Score: 325
Average OAT Total Science Score: 326
Residents 1st Year Tuition and Fees: $19128
Non-residents 1st Year Tuition and Fees: $26528
Offers Advanced Standing: Yes
National Board of Examiners for Optometry Pass Rates
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