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A perfect vision
for your future:

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

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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.

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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?
optometry students phoropter

96.99%

ultimate board passage rate

32

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

55575

square ft clinic, the largest single-specialty health care facility of its kind in North America

9:1

student/faculty ratio

60+

endowed scholarships awarded to each entering class

24

consecutive years of 0% default rate on student loans

3

patient care clinics SCO operates in Memphis

2600

patient encounters by graduation (including externships)
Testimonials

Hear from the Students

All Testimonials
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Class of 2021
Lauren Watson
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Class of 2021
Tim Szu
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Class of 2022
Kami Badger
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Class of 2023
Kalen Thompson
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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.

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optometrist conducting an eye exam
Taking notes
News

The Latest from SCO

  • How to win friends and handle my last year at SCO! 11/9/20
    Hey guys, It’s Pooja again, and as a quick reminder, I am now a big old 4 th year at SCO from Dallas, TX. I cannot believe I have been writing since 1 st year! Wow, do I feel old. Anywa...
  • Scholarship to Honor Dr. Clayton Powell 11/2/20
    At its fall meeting, SCO's Board of Trustees approved the establishment of a $25,000 Dr. C. Clayton Powell Memorial Scholarship in honor of the optometry pioneer who died recently at age 93. I...
  • Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Riley Williamson 11/13/20
    Riley Williamson, OD '12 Where do you currently live? Tucson, Arizona What is your greatest professional accomplishment or patient care success story? Part owner in one of t...
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