Orthoptist Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an orthoptist. Orthoptists usually study ophthalmic and optometric support services, liberal arts, or health sciences and services. 44% of orthoptists hold a bachelor's degree, and 11% hold an high school diploma. We analyzed 21 real orthoptist resumes to see exactly what orthoptist education sections show.

The most common colleges for orthoptists are the San Diego State University and the San Diego State University.

There are also many online orthoptist courses to help get the education required to be an orthoptist.

What education do you need to become an orthoptist?

What degree do you need to be an orthoptist?

The most common degree for orthoptists is bachelor's degree, with 44% of orthoptists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 11% and high school diploma degree at 11%.
  • Bachelor's, 44%
  • High School Diploma, 11%
  • Master's, 11%
  • Diploma, 11%
  • Other Degrees, 23%

What should I major in to become an orthoptist?

You should major in ophthalmic and optometric support services to become an orthoptist. 67% of orthoptists major in ophthalmic and optometric support services. Other common majors for an orthoptist include liberal arts and health sciences and services.

Most common colleges for orthoptists

Orthoptists often get their degrees at San Diego State University, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, and University of Florida. Here are the most common colleges for orthoptists in the US based on their resumes.
Orthoptist Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
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San Diego State University33.33%
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point33.33%
University of Florida33.33%

Best majors for orthoptists

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Ophthalmic And Optometric Support Services66.7%
2Liberal Arts22.2%
3Health Sciences And Services11.1%

Best colleges for orthoptists

The best colleges for orthoptists are Duke University, Georgetown University, and Northwestern University.

An orthoptist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for orthoptists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become orthoptists.

1. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

Website

WWW.DUKE.EDU

Address

103 Allen Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $93,200 per year

Net Price: $23,442 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.91%
SAT Average - 1516
ACT Average - 34

2. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,104

Enrollment

7,089

Website

www.georgetown.edu

Address

37th and O St NW, Washington, DC 20057

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $81,100 per year

Net Price: $30,169 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 14.52%
SAT Average - 1456
ACT Average - 33

3. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

Website

www.nyu.edu

Address

70 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012-1091

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $55,900 per year

Net Price: $42,397 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 19.99%
SAT Average - 1419
ACT Average - 32

4. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-State Tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

Website

https://twin-cities.umn.edu

Address

202 Morrill Hall, 100 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455-0213

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $46,000 per year

Net Price: $17,479 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 51.87%
SAT Average - 1336
ACT Average - 29

5. Ohio State University

Columbus, OH • Private

In-State Tuition

$10,726

Enrollment

45,769

Website

www.osu.edu/

Address

1585 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,500 per year

Net Price: $17,704 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 51.97%
SAT Average - 1359
ACT Average - 30

20 best online courses for orthoptists

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Top 10 most affordable universities for orthoptists

The most affordable schools for orthoptists are University of Florida, brigham young university, and baruch college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for orthoptists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for orthoptists.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,381

Cost of Attendance

21,034

Website

www.ufl.edu/

Address

300 SW 13th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,700 per year

Net Price: $8,057 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 38.75%
SAT Average - 1362
ACT Average - 30

2. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,620

Cost of Attendance

18,136

Website

www.byu.edu

Address

Main Campus, Provo, UT 84602

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $46,600 per year

Net Price: $13,181 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 64.47%
SAT Average - 1324
ACT Average - 29

3. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,262

Cost of Attendance

14,046

Website

www.baruch.cuny.edu

Address

One Bernard Baruch Way, New York, NY 10010

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,500 per year

Net Price: $2,981 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 39.29%
SAT Average - 1305

4. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,556

Cost of Attendance

19,434

Website

www.fiu.edu

Address

11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,500 per year

Net Price: $8,311 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 58.56%
SAT Average - 1185
ACT Average - 25

5. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,886

Cost of Attendance

17,645

Website

www.fullerton.edu

Address

800 N State College Blvd, Fullerton, CA 92831-3599

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,500 per year

Net Price: $8,234 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 43.41%
SAT Average - 1124
ACT Average - 22

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for orthoptists

The hardest universities for orthoptists to get into are Duke University, Georgetown University, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for orthoptists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for orthoptists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions Rate

9%

SAT Average

1,516

Website

WWW.DUKE.EDU

Address

103 Allen Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $93,200 per year

Net Price: $23,442 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.91%
SAT Average - 1516
ACT Average - 34

2. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions Rate

15%

SAT Average

1,456

Website

www.georgetown.edu

Address

37th and O St NW, Washington, DC 20057

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $81,100 per year

Net Price: $30,169 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 14.52%
SAT Average - 1456
ACT Average - 33

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,508

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34

4. Emory University

Atlanta, GA • Private

Admissions Rate

19%

SAT Average

1,449

Website

www.emory.edu

Address

1520 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30322

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $65,500 per year

Net Price: $24,593 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 18.52%
SAT Average - 1449
ACT Average - 33

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

20%

SAT Average

1,419

Website

www.nyu.edu

Address

70 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012-1091

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $55,900 per year

Net Price: $42,397 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 19.99%
SAT Average - 1419
ACT Average - 32

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for orthoptists

The easiest schools for orthoptists to get into are AdventHealth University, barry university, and d'youville college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an orthoptist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for orthoptists.

A

1. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

87%

SAT Average

1,016

Website

www.ahu.edu

Address

671 Winyah Drive, Orlando, FL 32803

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $53,500 per year

Net Price: $17,211 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 86.89%
SAT Average - 1016
ACT Average - 20

2. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,006

Website

www.barry.edu

Address

11300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $43,700 per year

Net Price: $17,937 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 91.25%
SAT Average - 1006
ACT Average - 20

3. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

100%

SAT Average

1,072

Website

www.dyc.edu

Address

320 Porter Ave, Buffalo, NY 14201-1084

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $50,600 per year

Net Price: $20,345 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 99.60%
SAT Average - 1072
ACT Average - 19

4. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

88%

SAT Average

1,044

Website

www.uiw.edu

Address

4301 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,000 per year

Net Price: $23,441 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 87.94%
SAT Average - 1044
ACT Average - 20

5. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions Rate

86%

SAT Average

991

Website

www.kean.edu

Address

1000 Morris Ave, Union, NJ 07083-0411

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,000 per year

Net Price: $18,547 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 85.98%
SAT Average - 991
ACT Average - 20

Average orthoptist salary by education level

Orthoptists with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $70,743 annually. With a Master's degree, orthoptists earn a median annual income of $69,335 compared to $67,610 for orthoptists with an No Education degree.
Orthoptist education level
ascdesc
Orthoptist salary
ascdesc
Bachelor's Degree$67,569
No Education$67,610
Some College/ Associate Degree$67,477
Master's Degree$69,335
High School Diploma or Less$63,961

Orthoptist Education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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