Cost of Attendance
Figures for tuition and fees represent currently approved or proposed amounts and may not be final. Actual tuition and fees are subject to change by the University of California as determined to be necessary and appropriate. Final approved tuition and fee levels may differ from the amounts presented. Please refer to Registrar’s Fee Schedule and to the Summer Session Fee Schedule for the most up-to-date information. Charges are subject to change without notice.
It is not possible to estimate all costs associated with an optometric education (e.g. immunizations, basic life support certification, background checks, safety trainings, etc.) and may be dependent on the student’s choice of externships sites, states in which they are pursuing licensure, and whether the student chooses to pursue residency training post graduation, etc.
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Fees By Semester: Fall & Spring 2024-2025
| Fee | CA Resident | Non CA Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $6,381 | $6,381 |
| Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition | $12,139 | $12,139 |
| Non-Resident Supplemental Tuition | 0 | $6,122.50 |
| Student Services Fee | $627 | $627 |
| Berkeley Campus Fee | $820 | $820 |
| Class Pass Transit Fee | $105 | $105 |
| Health Insurance Fee (if not waived) | $3,221 | $3,221 |
| Document Management Fee | $140 | $140 |
| Instructional Resilience & Enhancement Fee | $130 | $130 |
| TOTAL PER SEMESTER | $23,563 | $29,685.50 |
Fees By Semester: Summer 2025
All students enroll in 10 units of summer session in the 2nd and 3rd year of the program.| Fee | CA Resident | Non CA Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Tuition | $5,840 | $5,840 |
| Campus Fee | $449 | $449 |
| Class Pass Transit Fee | $52.50 | $52.50 |
| ESTIMATED TOTAL PER SEMESTER | $6,341.50 | $6,341.50 |
Estimated Expenses
The following estimated expenses are meant to serve as unofficial guidelines. The Financial Aid Office updates these figures annually through student surveys and other research.
| Expense | Estimated Costs for 2 Semesters |
|---|---|
| Rent/Utilities | $18,984 |
| Food | $9,300 |
| Personal | $3,152 |
| Transportation | $3,660 |
| Books | $250 |
| Optometric Equipment* (1st & 2nd year) | $10,221 |
| Student Organizations | $255 |
| TOTAL ESTIMATED EXPENSES | $44,653 |
*Equipment
During the first and second year of enrollment, it is necessary for optometry students to purchase certain hand-held equipment to use. This equipment, which may be used after graduation in the practice of optometry, costs from $9,000 – $11,000 depending on brand name and quality of equipment selected by students.
Off-Campus Expenses During 4th Year
During the fourth year, students are required to participate in off campus externships. These rotations take the fourth-year clinician away from the Bay Area for 9 to 32 weeks of the 4th year. Desired location and duration of externships cannot be guaranteed. Students are required to manage and pay their own costs for travel, accommodations, food, other living expenses and costs associated with externship credentialing/onboarding, such as background checks, immunizations, TB testing, drug screenings, mask fitting, and basic life support certification. Credentialing costs depend on externship sites assigned, health care coverage of the student, and other variables which make it impossible to accurately predict these costs.
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