The Illinois College of Optometry is one of the world's leading urban optometric institutions. Located in Chicago, ICO resides in the educational and healthcare corridor along with the University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Mercy Hospital and Medical Center.

For more than 145 years, ICO has been dedicated to providing an unsurpassed clinical educational experience to optometry students who share our passion for excellence.

Committed to excellence in education, patient care, and scholarly activity, ICO offers distinguished faculty, a comprehensive curriculum, extensive clinical experience, and premier facilities.

The Illinois Eye Institute – located right onsite at ICO – offers training that students will not find anywhere else in the world. The IEI provides students with the patient volume, complexity and diverse ophthalmic experiences that are integral to becoming a well-rounded clinician. With 61 fully equipped examination lanes, the IEI is one of the largest providers of vision and eye care services in the United States, offering students access to more than 100,000 patient visits each year.

Key Faculty

ICO’s distinguished faculty, administration and staff bring the intensive program to life. Faculty are approachable and students enjoy direct access to consult with them on instructions, clarification and guidance for their studies. ICO’s faculty plays significant roles in everything from the admissions interview to student organizations and community service projects to graduation.

Research & Labs

In addition to the Illinois Eye Institute, students also learn and practice their optometric skills in ICO’s state-of-the-art Eyepod, an award-winning enhanced learning center that offers 38 ophthalmic teaching lanes, 5 teaching laboratories, 6 research laboratories and individual assessment rooms for student evaluations.

The Illinois College of Optometry has a strong commitment to excellence in research. Research projects at ICO involve a broad range of disciplines in biomedical sciences, visual sciences, and clinical studies. ICO researchers receive support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Eye Institute (NEI), and other foundations, such as the National Keratoconus Foundation, Children Care Foundation, Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness, and Field Foundation of Illinois. The College also provides an intramural grant program to support the research of faculty, residents, and students.

ICO students are required to complete a research and scholarly project during their 4-year optometry training. Along with faculty, many students present their research projects at professional meetings of national organizations including the American Academy of Optometry, American Optometric Association, and Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

ICO also holds a research symposium once a year. Faculty, residents, and students present their research work and discuss the future potential studies during the symposium. In addition, the College sponsors visiting professors yearly around to encourage communication and collaboration in research.

Tuition & Other Financial Information

An optometric education is an investment in your future -- a big investment. Many of our students need financial support beyond their family and personal resources, and ICO’s financial aid team will do everything possible to assist you with financing your education.

Besides providing advice, our team can also talk with you about several scholarships and awards available to you before the first day of class and after you become an ICO student. A limited number of Presidential Scholarships, Trustees Scholarships, and Scholarships for Underrepresented Populations are available to incoming students. There are not separate scholarship applications for incoming students, as all accepted students are automatically evaluated during the admissions process for scholarship consideration. Please visit www.ico.edu/financial-aid/ico-scholarships or contact the Office of Admissions for more information. ICO also participates in the Federal Work-Study Program and there are numerous positions for students in the clinic and administrative offices on campus.

Complete cost information can be found at: www.ico.edu/financial-aid/cost-of-attendance.

School History

The Illinois College of Optometry has a long and distinguished legacy as the oldest continually operating educational facility in the world dedicated solely to the teaching of optometrists. Since its founding in 1872 by Dr. Henry Olin, ICO has remained at the forefront of optometry through the dedicated efforts of faculty, students, and alumni.

Other Information

The ICO Library
The ICO library is second to none in providing students access to a comprehensive collection of resources and media on the visual sciences and ocular and general health. ICO is also home to VisionCite, a world-renowned index of articles in the vision sciences exclusive to the institution.

Recorded Lectures
All regularly scheduled classes are recorded-with video, audio, and slide capture-and stored for students to access 24/7.

Student Notetaking Service
For each course offered at ICO, notes are taken, organized and available for a quarterly subscription fee. Participation is voluntary.

Tutoring
There are individual and small group tutoring programs available. Our faculty approve the list of student tutors and provide guidance about how to present the material during tutoring sessions.

Student Counseling Services
In addition to short-term psychological and academic counseling, ICO provides academic enrichment services, such as review sessions, academic advising, and individual or group sessions on topics including study skills enhancement, time management and stress management.

Career Services
ICO assists students, new graduates and alumni with locating practice opportunities. We also offer numerous programs and networking opportunities throughout the year to connect students with information on modes of practice available, interviewing, state board certification, and much more.