Best colleges for Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top colleges for Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions by graduate earnings are Durham Technical Community College ($61,860), Miami Dade College ($57,932) and Hillsborough College ($48,106), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Durham Technical Community College (Durham, NC): $61,860, 26 graduates a year
- Miami Dade College (Miami, FL): $57,932, 23 graduates a year
- Hillsborough College (Tampa, FL): $48,106, 39 graduates a year
- American Career College - Ontario (Ontario, CA): $32,524, 44 graduates a year
- American Career College - Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA): $27,698, 43 graduates a year
Compare 55 U.S. colleges offering Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 25 states.
Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $34,697 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 51.18 and the Ophthalmic Medical Technicians occupation (BLS SOC).
About Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions programs
The Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions program focuses on training individuals to assist eye care professionals in delivering quality vision care. This program is ideal for those interested in a career in healthcare, specifically in the field of optometry and ophthalmology, where they can play a vital role in patient care and support.
Learn more about Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions →
Students in this program will gain essential skills in active listening, critical thinking, and the operation of ophthalmic equipment. Coursework covers areas such as customer service, medicine, and administrative tasks, preparing graduates for various roles in eye care settings.
Top 11 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham Technical Community College Durham, NC Public · Associate degree | $61,860 | 26 | 45% | — | — |
| 2 | Miami Dade College Miami, FL Public · Associate degree | $57,932 | 23 | 46% | — | — |
| 3 | Hillsborough College Tampa, FL Public · Associate degree | $48,106 | 39 | 34% | — | $19,464 |
| 4 | American Career College - Ontario Ontario, CA Private for-profit · Certificate | $32,524 | 44 | 66% | $31,076 | $9,500 |
| 5 | American Career College - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Private for-profit · Certificate | $27,698 | 43 | 75% | $28,906 | $9,500 |
| 6 | Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Associate degree Small program | $44,504 | 13 | 46% | $17,988 | $19,899 |
| 7 | Essex County College Newark, NJ Public · Associate degree | $37,740 | 24 | 20% | — | — |
| 8 | Triton College River Grove, IL Public · Associate degree Small program | $34,697 | 11 | 29% | — | — |
| 9 | Roane State Community College Harriman, TN Public · Associate degree Small program | $33,853 | 11 | 36% | — | — |
| 10 | CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, NY Public · Associate degree Small program | $29,187 | 14 | 21% | — | — |
| 11 | Erie Community College Buffalo, NY Public · Associate degree Small program | $26,746 | 4 | 28% | — | — |
Specializations within Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions
5 of the 5 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 51.18 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Opticianry/CIP 51.1801
Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician 407 graduates / yr23 institutions15 states - Optometric Technician/CIP 51.1802
Assistant 196 graduates / yr14 institutions9 states - Ophthalmic Technician/CIP 51.1803
Technologist 172 graduates / yr19 institutions14 states - Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied ProfessionsCIP 51.1899partial data34 graduates / yr4 institutions4 states
- Orthoptics/CIP 51.1804
Orthoptist limited data2 graduates / yr2 institutions1 states
Offered across 25 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 4 | $61,860 | Durham Technical Community College |
| Florida | 5 | $57,932 | Miami Dade College |
| Massachusettslimited | 2 | $44,504 | Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology |
| New Jersey | 3 | $37,740 | Essex County College |
| Illinois | 3 | $34,697 | Triton College |
| Tennesseelimited | 2 | $33,853 | Roane State Community College |
| California | 3 | $32,524 | American Career College - Ontario |
| New Yorklimited | 2 | $29,187 | CUNY New York City College of Technology |
| Connecticutlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Louisianalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Michiganlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Minnesota | 3 | — | — |
| Mississippilimited | 1 | — | — |
| Nevadalimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Mexicolimited | 1 | — | — |
| Ohiolimited | 1 | — | — |
| Oregonlimited | 2 | — | — |
| Pennsylvanialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Texas | 5 | — | — |
| Virginialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Wisconsinlimited | 2 | — | — |
| Puerto Rico | 5 | — | — |
| Georgialimited | 2 | — | — |
| Arizonalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Oklahomalimited | 2 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-2057, Ophthalmic Medical Technicians, and its national outlook.
The career outlook for graduates in Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services is promising, with a growth rate of 19.8% and approximately 12,500 annual job openings. The median wage for this field is around $44,080, and most positions require a postsecondary nondegree award.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 51.18.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 51.18 (Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions) maps to 2 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 29-2057 | Ophthalmic Medical Techniciansprimary |
| 29-2081 | Opticians, Dispensing |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Take and document patients' medical histories.
- Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.
- Operate ophthalmic equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, or retinoscopes.
- Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements.
- Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.
- Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.
Common questions
What types of specializations are available?+
Specializations include Opticianry, Optometric Technician, Ophthalmic Technician, Orthoptics, and more.
What tasks will I perform in this field?+
You will document patient histories, conduct eye tests, operate equipment, and measure visual acuity.
What skills are important for success in this program?+
Key skills include active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What is the typical education requirement for careers in this field?+
Most positions require a postsecondary nondegree award.
How much do Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions graduates earn?+
Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $34,697, College Scorecard (2019); the Ophthalmic Medical Technicians occupation pays about $47,060 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions?+
Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions maps to CIP 51.18 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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