SUNY College of Optometry

What SUNY College of Optometry does

SUNY College of Optometry is a public, state-funded graduate institution within the State University of New York system, founded in 1971 and located at 33 West 42nd Street in midtown Manhattan. It is the state's only college of optometry and operates three integrated lines of activity: (1) professional and graduate education, offering a four-year Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree, MS and PhD programs in vision science, and nine specialty residency programs; (2) patient care through the University Eye Center — one of the largest outpatient optometric facilities in the United States, generating over 60,000 patient visits and 240,000 total clinical encounters annually across the main campus, 65 affiliated training sites, and community partners such as NYC Health + Hospitals and The Bowery Mission; and (3) vision science research via three centers (Clinical Vision Research Center, Graduate Center for Vision Research, and Schnurmacher Institute for Vision Research), with 34 active grants and ~$3.06M in funding as of FY 2019-20, plus 120+ sponsored clinical studies since 2013.

The business model combines tuition revenue (in-state OD tuition $29,820, out-of-state $51,150 in 2019-20), patient care fee-for-service revenue through the University Eye Center, federal and industry research grants, continuing professional education, and foundation support from the affiliated Optometric Center of New York (~$10.8M in assets). The annual operating budget is approximately $33 million. Enrollment totals roughly 409 students including OD candidates, PhD, OD/MS, and MS cohorts, supported by 73 full-time and 33 part-time faculty plus 170 external adjuncts. Output quality is signaled by a 97% National Board pass rate, 2,400 clinical hours per OD student, and an entering-class GPA of 3.6.

The institution is preparing its first geographic expansion with a new upstate campus in Syracuse, NY in 2026, alongside a strategic partnership with SUNY Polytechnic Institute and recent industry-sponsored research funding from the AAOF and Meta Reality Labs. It is governed by SUNY system oversight, accredited by the Middle States Commission and the ACOE, and led by Dr. David Troilo, its fourth president, since August 2024.

Name

SUNY College of Optometry

Legal name

State University of New York College of Optometry

Website

https://sunyopt.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

SUNY College of Optometry is New York State's only public college of optometry, educating OD, MS, and PhD students, conducting vision science research, and delivering patient care through the University Eye Center in Manhattan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optometric Education and Vision Care

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Offices of Optometrists (62132)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Ophthalmic Goods (3851)

akta.pro primary industry

Schools of Optometry (EDAHAGAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optometry Clinics (Primary Eye Care) (HLAKAKAB), Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care (HLAKAKAA), Vision & Ophthalmic Diagnostic Centers (Optometry/OCT/Retinal Imaging) (HLAFAKAI)

Keywords

• Optometric education programs
• Vision science research
• Primary eye care
• Optometry residency training
• Continuing professional education

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: The college generates revenue through tuition from Doctor of Optometry (OD), MS, and PhD programs. In-state tuition was $29,820 and out-of-state tuition was $51,150 as of 2019-20 academic year.
2. Patient Care Revenue: The University Eye Center generates revenue from patient care services, providing over 60,000 patient visits in FY 2022-23 and 240,000 total patient encounters including satellite clinics.
3. Research Grants and Funding: Federal, foundation, and industry research grants including NIH funding. The college received approximately $3.06 million in research funding in FY 2019-20 with 34 active grants.
4. Continuing Professional Education: Revenue from continuing education programs for practicing optometrists.
5. Foundation Support: The Optometric Center of New York (OCNY), the nonprofit allied and endowing foundation, manages approximately $10.8 million in assets to support the college.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SUNY College of Optometry is a public academic institution that educates future optometrists and vision scientists through Doctor of Optometry (OD), MS, PhD, and residency programs while delivering primary and specialized vision care via the University Eye Center. The College advances vision science through three research centers (Clinical Vision Research Center, Graduate Center for Vision Research, Schnurmacher Institute) and operates continuing professional education for practicing optometrists.

Product overview

SUNY College of Optometry is an academic healthcare institution, not a technology product company. Its core offerings are educational programs and patient care services. The institution provides a unified portfolio centered on the Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree program, combined MS/PhD degrees in Vision Science, and post-graduate residency programs across nine specialty areas (cornea and contact lenses, neuro-optometric rehabilitation, family practice, low vision rehabilitation, ocular disease, pediatrics, primary eye care, acquired brain injury, and vision therapy). Clinical services are delivered through the University Eye Center—one of the nation's largest outpatient vision care facilities—serving over 60,000 patient visits annually. Research operations are supported by the Clinical Vision Research Center (CVRC), which conducts sponsored clinical trials advancing vision care treatments and technologies. Continuing Professional Education programs round out the portfolio, supporting lifelong learning for practicing optometrists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• University Eye Center: One of the largest outpatient vision care facilities in the United States, offering both primary and specialized vision care services
• Clinical Vision Research Center (CVRC)
• Graduate Center for Vision Research
• Schnurmacher Institute For Vision Research

Products and services

• Doctor of Optometry (OD) Degree Program Four-year professional degree program preparing students to become licensed optometrists, accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education.
• MS and PhD Degrees in Vision Science Graduate research degrees (MS and PhD) in vision science for students pursuing academic and research careers in vision and ocular science.
• Residency Programs Post-graduate residency training in nine specialty areas: cornea and contact lenses, neuro-optometric rehabilitation, family practice, low vision rehabilitation, ocular disease, pediatrics, primary eye care, acquired brain injury, and vision therapy.
• University Eye Center One of the largest outpatient vision care facilities in the nation, providing primary and specialized optometric care including pediatrics, ocular disease, low vision rehabilitation, contact lenses, and community outreach to over 60,000 patient visits annually.
• Clinical Vision Research Center (CVRC) Sponsored clinical research facility conducting human subject studies in collaboration with private, public, and industry sponsors across contact lenses, myopia management, dry eye, glaucoma, and imaging devices; has supported 120+ clinical studies and trials since 2013.
• Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Ongoing education programs for practicing optometrists to maintain licensure and remain current with advances in optometry and vision science.
• Early Assurance Program Early admission pathway for undergraduate students to secure a spot in the OD program, with applications due August 1 and decisions issued by October 1.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of students pass all three parts of National Board by graduation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SUNY Polytechnic InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 February 2026Partnership to expand student pathways and experiential learning opportunities. Establishes a framework for collaboration to expand academic pathways, enhance experiential learning opportunities, and foster faculty and student engagement in areas related to vision care, research, and professional development.
• Wenzhou Medical UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic partnership for student exchange and research collaboration in vision science
• University of KwaZulu-NatalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic partnership for vision research collaboration
• University of MelbourneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic partnership for vision research collaboration
• Flinders UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic partnership for vision research collaboration
• Institut Superieur d'OptiqueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic partnership for optometry education collaboration
• Arab-American University JeninminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic partnership for vision research
• Abia State University UturuminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic partnership for vision science education
• American Academy of Optometry FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$500,000 Myopia Research Grant awarded to SUNY faculty researchers to study how children's everyday visual experiences may contribute to myopia development and progression
• Meta Reality Labs ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder of $500,000 Myopia Research Grant along with AAOF to study children's visual experiences and myopia development
• Optometric Center of New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe OCNY is the nonprofit allied and endowing foundation of the College, founded in 1956. Has 21 trustees and approximately $10.8 million in assets supporting the college's mission
• NYC Health + HospitalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with hospitals affiliated with NYC Health + Hospitals for community outreach and patient referrals
• The Bowery MissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership providing vision care services, touching 9,600 lives through outreach programs

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• New England College of Optometry: Independent optometry college in Boston offering the OD degree, residency programs, and patient care through its own clinical facility. Closely comparable as a stand-alone, specialized optometry institution with a parallel three-pillar mission of education, research, and clinical service.
• Illinois College of Optometry: Private optometry college in Chicago offering OD, residency, and graduate programs alongside its own teaching eye center. Directly comparable as a similarly sized specialized optometry school with a major urban clinical training site.
• Salus University (Pennsylvania College of Optometry): Health sciences university in Elkins Park, PA whose founding college is an optometry program offering OD and graduate degrees with on-site clinical services. Comparable as a specialized optometry institution with parallel academic-clinical structure.
• Southern College of Optometry: Independent optometry college in Memphis offering the OD degree, residency programs, and a teaching eye center. Comparable as a similarly structured private optometry institution with an integrated clinical training model.
• University of Houston College of Optometry: Public optometry program within a state university offering OD and graduate research degrees plus patient care through its University Eye Institute. Highly comparable as a public, state-affiliated optometry college with parallel research and clinical mission.
• Ohio State University College of Optometry: Public optometry college within a major state research university, offering OD and graduate degrees with an on-site optometry clinic. Comparable as a public-state optometry school with strong research orientation within a larger university system.
• Indiana University School of Optometry: Public optometry school within Indiana University offering OD and graduate vision science programs plus the Atwater Eye Care Center. Comparable as a state-affiliated optometry program with integrated clinical, teaching, and research operations.
• University of California Berkeley School of Optometry: Public optometry school within a major research university, offering OD and PhD programs alongside the Meredith W. Morgan Eye Center. Comparable as a top-tier public optometry institution with strong research and clinical operations.
• Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry: Private optometry college in Florida offering OD, MS, and residency programs plus the NSU Eye Care Institute. Comparable as a similarly structured specialized optometry program with on-site clinical training and graduate research offerings.
• University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry: Private optometry school in Texas offering the OD degree and residency programs with on-site clinical services. Comparable as a specialized optometry institution operating within a broader university while maintaining a distinct optometric identity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/sunyoptometry
• Facebookfacebook.com/141088282606291
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/suny-college-of-optometry
• Instagraminstagram.com/sunyopt
• Xx.com/sunyopt

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SUNY College of Optometry