• Home
  • Prospective Students
    • About Optometry
    • Admissions
      • Academic Information
        • Prerequisite Courses
        • Recommended Pre-Optometry Course Sequence
      • Deadlines
      • How to Apply
        • State Residency Certification
      • International Students
      • Become a Competitive Applicant
      • Tips for Applicants
    • Events for Prospective Students
      • Discover Optometry
      • Success in Sight (High School Program)
      • Eye on Success (College Program)
    • Get to Know SCO
      • FAQS
      • College Catalog
      • Curriculum
      • Interactive Tour
      • Student/Graduate Achievement
      • Quick Facts
    • Online Information Sessions
    • Scholarships and Financial Aid
      • Scholarship Opportunities
      • Student Debt Calculator
    • SCO Visits Your Campus
    • Student Life
      • Living in Memphis
      • Housing Virtual Marketplace
      • Student Life Blogs
      • Student Organizations
        • Student Ambassadors
      • Student Testimonials
    • Tuition and Fees
    • Why SCO?
      • ASCO Profile
      • Choosing an Optometry School
      • Student/Graduate Achievement
      • Profile of Entering Class
      • Residencies
      • The Eye Center
        • Video Tour of The Eye Center
    • Contact Student Services
      • Enrollment Services
      • Counseling Services
    • Request Information
    • Visit SCO
      • Transportation Options
      • Interactive Tour
  • Current Students
    • Official Academic Calendar
    • College Catalog
    • Externship Program
      • Preceptor Spotlight
    • Financial Aid
      • Applying for Financial Aid
        • Financial Aid Forms
      • Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN)
      • Financial Aid Deadlines
      • Financial Aid FAQS
      • Financial Aid Handbook
      • Financial Aid for International Students
      • Financial Aid Resources
        • Debt Calculator
        • Glossary of Basic Loan Terms
        • Scholarship Search Sites
        • Standard Student Budget
      • Types of Financial Aid
      • Scholarships
    • Hayes Center for Practice Excellence
      • Optometry’s Practice Connection
      • Practice of Excellence Award
      • Summer Shadowing Contest
      • Resources
    • Residency Programs
      • Admission to Residency Programs
      • Online Residency Application
      • Our Residency Programs
        • Appelbaum Eye Care Associates, PC
        • Bond-Wroten Eye Clinic
        • Bowersox Vision Center, PSC
        • Children's Hospital Colorado
        • Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, Inc.
        • Draisin Vision Group
        • Duke University
        • Eye Specialty Group/Southern College of Optometry
        • Eyecare Professionals, P.C.
        • Family Eyecare Associates, P.C.
        • Gainesville Eye Associates
        • Georgia Eye Partners
        • Greenville VA Outpatient Clinic
        • James H. Quillen VA Medical Center
        • Louisiana Family Eyecare
        • Memphis VA Medical Center
        • Moyes Eye Center
        • Neuro-Vision Associates of North Texas
        • Ochsner Clinic
        • Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center
        • Paul Vision Institute
        • Salem VA Medical Center
        • SouthEast Eye Specialists
        • SCO, Residency in Vision Rehab, with Emphasis in Low Vision Rehab and Ocular Disease
        • SCO, Residency in Vision Rehabilitation, with Emphasis in Brain Injury Rehabilitation
        • The Eye Center at SCO Pediatric Optometry, with Emphasis in Vision Therapy and Vision Rehabilitation
        • The Eye Center Primary Care Optometry, w Emphasis in Family Practice Optometry and Ocular Disease
        • The Eye Center at SCO & Christian Brothers University
        • Toyos Clinic
        • W. G. Hefner VA Medical Center
        • WJB Dorn VA Medical Center
        • Woolfson Eye Institute
        • Wow Vision Therapy
      • 2022-23 SCO Residency Programs (PDF)
      • Residency Spotlight
    • Student Handbook
    • Student Organizations
      • Ambassadors
    • Student Resources
      • Tech Support
        • ExamSoft
        • IRIS
        • Panopto
        • Moodle
      • Communications
      • Counseling Services
      • Credential Request
      • Disabilities Services
      • Enrollment Services
      • Library
      • Student Webmail
      • Curriculum Hours Verification
      • Security
      • Transcript Request
      • External Degrees
    • Meet Our Faculty
    • Summer Research Fellowship
  • Alumni
    • Alumni Achievement Awards
    • Alumni News
      • Alumni Birth and Wedding Registry
        • Alumni Birth and Wedding Registry Submissions
    • Alumni Spotlight
    • Alumni Services
      • Alumni Email
      • Credential Request
      • Curriculum Hours Verification
      • Transcript Request
      • Placement Service
      • Alumni Information Update
    • Continuing Education
      • Online CE Course Library
        • Online CE Instructors
        • Online CE Library Financial Disclosures
      • Upcoming Events
    • Hayes Center for Practice Excellence
    • SCOnline Alumni Newsletter
    • Visions Alumni Magazine
  • Ways to Give
    • Give to SCO
      • Give Now
      • Donor Impact
      • Planned Giving
      • Circle of Sight: Giving Societies
      • Contact Us
    • Employee Giving: Together We Can Do Great Things
      • Impact
  • About SCO
    • Who We Are
      • Mission Statement
      • Department Directory
      • Leadership
        • Board of Trustees Bios
        • President
        • Organization Chart
        • President Emeritus
      • Our Clinics
      • Community Engagement & Outreach
      • Strategic Plan
        • Strategic Plan Booklet
      • Program Outcomes: Student/Graduate Achievement
        • Retention and Graduation Rates
        • NBEO Passage Rates
        • Career Placement and Residency Rates
      • Graduate Attributes
      • Consumer Information
        • Licensure Disclosure
    • Accreditation
      • Compliance & Security
    • Campus Store
    • Contact Us
      • Records Requests
        • Credential Request
        • Curriculum Hours Verification
        • Transcript Request
        • Optometric Residency Verifications
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Event Calendar
    • Honorary Degrees
    • Human Resources
      • Career Opportunities
      • Faculty/Staff Resources
        • ADP
        • Counseling Services
        • Faculty/Staff Webmail
      • Live Local
    • Library
      • Catalog Search
      • Diversity/LGBTQ+ Resources
      • Resources
      • Library Collections &Services
      • Library Guides
      • Library Staff
      • Library Hours
      • Room/Seat Reservations
    • Meet Our Faculty
      • Professors Emeriti
    • Our Campus
      • Activity Center
      • Campus Security
        • Clery Act
      • Environmental Policy
      • Learning Resource Center
      • Hours of Operation
    • Photo Gallery
    • Research
      • Research at SCO
      • Research Faculty
      • Summer Research Fellowship
      • Posters
    • SCO News
    • Title IX
    • Values
    • Visit SCO
      • Transportation Options
      • Interactive Tour
  • Milestone Events
    • Heart of America
    • SECO
    • Spring CE Weekend
      • Registration
      • Spring CE Agenda
      • Spring CE Speakers
      • Exhibit Hall
      • Hotel Information
    • Commencement
      • Student Schedule
      • Family & Guest Events
        • Honor a Graduate
      • Gamma Omicron Diploma Framing
      • Hotel Information
      • Commencement Livestream
      • Honor a Graduate
    • 50-Year-Class Reunion
      • Hotel Information
    • Residents' Weekend
    • AOA - Optometry's Meeting
    • Orientation
      • Orientation Schedule
      • Important Information and Links
      • Student Organizations
      • Class of 2026 IRIS
      • Welcome to SCO & Memphis
      • Pre-Recorded Orientation Sessions
      • Memphis Address Registration
      • Required Training
    • White Coat Ceremony
      • Student Optometric Oath
    • Convocation
    • Homecoming
      • Hotel Information
    • American Academy of Optometry
  • Give
  • Admissions
  • Placement
  • Contact
  • Our Clinics
Apply Give
Southern College of Optometry logo
  • Admissions
  • Placement
  • Contact
  • Give
  • Our Clinics
  • Prospective Students
  • Current Students
  • Alumni
  • About SCO
  • Milestone Events
Give
Apply

Prospective Students

Like any endeavor worth pursuing in life, it takes careful preparation to become an optometrist.

Request Information

Current Students

Students are at the heart of our mission.

Student Resources
  • Official Academic Calendar
  • College Catalog
  • Externship Program
    • Preceptor Spotlight
  • Financial Aid
    • Applying for Financial Aid
      • Financial Aid Forms
    • Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN)
    • Financial Aid Deadlines
    • Financial Aid FAQS
    • Financial Aid Handbook
    • Financial Aid for International Students
    • Financial Aid Resources
      • Debt Calculator
      • Glossary of Basic Loan Terms
      • Scholarship Search Sites
      • Standard Student Budget
    • Types of Financial Aid
    • Scholarships
  • Hayes Center for Practice Excellence
    • Optometry’s Practice Connection
    • Practice of Excellence Award
    • Summer Shadowing Contest
    • Resources
  • Residency Programs
    • Admission to Residency Programs
    • Online Residency Application
    • Our Residency Programs
      • Appelbaum Eye Care Associates, PC
      • Bond-Wroten Eye Clinic
      • Bowersox Vision Center, PSC
      • Children's Hospital Colorado
      • Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, Inc.
      • Draisin Vision Group
      • Duke University
      • Eye Specialty Group/Southern College of Optometry
      • Eyecare Professionals, P.C.
      • Family Eyecare Associates, P.C.
      • Gainesville Eye Associates
      • Georgia Eye Partners
      • Greenville VA Outpatient Clinic
      • James H. Quillen VA Medical Center
      • Louisiana Family Eyecare
      • Memphis VA Medical Center
      • Moyes Eye Center
      • Neuro-Vision Associates of North Texas
      • Ochsner Clinic
      • Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center
      • Paul Vision Institute
      • Salem VA Medical Center
      • SouthEast Eye Specialists
      • SCO, Residency in Vision Rehab, with Emphasis in Low Vision Rehab and Ocular Disease
      • SCO, Residency in Vision Rehabilitation, with Emphasis in Brain Injury Rehabilitation
      • The Eye Center at SCO Pediatric Optometry, with Emphasis in Vision Therapy and Vision Rehabilitation
      • The Eye Center Primary Care Optometry, w Emphasis in Family Practice Optometry and Ocular Disease
      • The Eye Center at SCO & Christian Brothers University
      • Toyos Clinic
      • W. G. Hefner VA Medical Center
      • WJB Dorn VA Medical Center
      • Woolfson Eye Institute
      • Wow Vision Therapy
    • 2022-23 SCO Residency Programs (PDF)
    • Residency Spotlight
  • Student Handbook
  • Student Organizations
    • Ambassadors
  • Student Resources
    • Tech Support
      • ExamSoft
      • IRIS
      • Panopto
      • Moodle
    • Communications
    • Counseling Services
    • Credential Request
    • Disabilities Services
    • Enrollment Services
    • Library
    • Student Webmail
    • Curriculum Hours Verification
    • Security
    • Transcript Request
    • External Degrees
  • Meet Our Faculty
  • Summer Research Fellowship

Alumni

Get involved in our thriving alumni community.

Alumni Services
  • Alumni Achievement Awards
  • Alumni News
    • Alumni Birth and Wedding Registry
      • Alumni Birth and Wedding Registry Submissions
  • Alumni Spotlight
  • Alumni Services
    • Alumni Email
    • Credential Request
    • Curriculum Hours Verification
    • Transcript Request
    • Placement Service
    • Alumni Information Update
  • Continuing Education
    • Online CE Course Library
      • Online CE Instructors
      • Online CE Library Financial Disclosures
    • Upcoming Events
  • Hayes Center for Practice Excellence
  • SCOnline Alumni Newsletter
  • Visions Alumni Magazine

About SCO

SCO is one of the nation's leading optometry schools.

Our Campus

Milestone Events

Take time to recognize these significant achievements.

Event Schedule
  • Heart of America
  • SECO
  • Spring CE Weekend
    • Registration
    • Spring CE Agenda
    • Spring CE Speakers
    • Exhibit Hall
    • Hotel Information
  • Commencement
    • Student Schedule
    • Family & Guest Events
      • Honor a Graduate
    • Gamma Omicron Diploma Framing
    • Hotel Information
    • Commencement Livestream
    • Honor a Graduate
  • 50-Year-Class Reunion
    • Hotel Information
  • Residents' Weekend
  • AOA - Optometry's Meeting
  • Orientation
    • Orientation Schedule
    • Important Information and Links
    • Student Organizations
    • Class of 2026 IRIS
    • Welcome to SCO & Memphis
    • Pre-Recorded Orientation Sessions
    • Memphis Address Registration
    • Required Training
  • White Coat Ceremony
    • Student Optometric Oath
  • Convocation
  • Homecoming
    • Hotel Information
  • American Academy of Optometry
Get Started
Get Info
Tour
Give

Enter a search request and press enter. Press Esc or the X to close.

Close

A perfect vision
for your future:

There's a reason that so many prospective students choose to apply to SCO each year.

Prospective Students Current Students Alumni How to Apply

Southern College of Optometry building
Admissions

Optometry is an Investment as Your Future Career

When you apply to SCO, you’ve chosen one of the nation’s leading optometry schools—alma mater to 14 American Optometric Association Presidents and nearly 90 years of graduating the best clinicians in the field.

Start Here
Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN
Stats

Southern College of Optometry by the Numbers

SCO’s numbers reflect the strength of our optometry school and the top qualified students we recruit. From our low student/faculty ratio to the number of patient encounters our interns experience by their graduation, the facts speak for themselves as to why SCO is a leading choice for optometry students across the nation.

Why SCO?

98%

ultimate board passage rate

32

residency programs with 57 residency slots – more than any optometry school in the country

55575

square ft clinic

9:1

student/faculty ratio

60+

endowed scholarships awarded to each entering class

0

% default rate for 24 out of the last 25 years
per U.S. Department of Education

3

patient care clinics SCO operates in Memphis

2600

patient encounters by graduation (including externships)

Testimonials

Hear from the Students

All Testimonials
Video testimonial cover image
Class of 2024
Mallory Wright
Video testimonial cover image
Class of 2024
Donnie Koonce
Video testimonial cover image
Class of 2024
Serena McArthur
Video testimonial cover image
Class of 2024
Zach Groves
Let's Talk

See Your Future in 20/20

SCO actively pursues opportunities that help our patients see better and our students learn at the same time. We would love to share more with you about the many reasons optometry is a rewarding healthcare profession where you will make a difference as a primary eyecare provider.

Request Information
optometrist conducting an eye exam
Taking notes
News

The Latest from SCO

  • An Ode to Midtown—Brianna Aheimer, '25 2/15/23
    My first year at SCO, I followed the crowd and lived on Mud Island. I have no complaints about the island, and I think it’s a great choice for when you don’t know the city very well. But ...
  • New Student Ambassadors Selected from the Class of 2026 1/9/23
    Ten members of the Class of 2026 have been selected as Southern College of Optometry's newest student ambassadors. Student ambassadors assist in student recruitment, admissions, and public rel...
  • Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Emily Ridge 3/15/23
    Emily Ridge, OD '17   Hernando, MS Many recent graduates dream of owning their own practice. In this video alumni spotlight, learn how Emily Ridge, OD '17, worked to make her private pract...
Picture of Memphis Skyline

See all that Memphis has to offer you

Get to Know Memphis

1245 Madison Ave.
Memphis, TN 38104

(901)722-3200

The Eye Center

1225 Madison Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104

(901)722-3250

Helpful Links

  • Admissions
  • Prospective Students
  • Resources
  • Calendar
  • Webmail
  • Contact Us

Stay In Touch

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Apply Today

Southern College of Optometry © 2023
Sitemap Privacy Policy Memphis Web Design by Speak
loading