Southern College of Optometry

What Southern College of Optometry does

Southern College of Optometry (SCO) is a private, nonprofit optometry school founded in 1932 and located in Memphis, Tennessee. The institution offers a four-year Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree program with approximately 135 students per entering class, supported by a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and ACOE accreditation. SCO operates The Eye Center, a 55,575 square foot teaching clinic on its main campus at 1245 Madison Avenue, where students gain hands-on patient care experience and complete approximately 2,600 patient encounters by graduation through internal rotations and externships.

The institution generates revenue through four primary streams: tuition and fees, patient care services at The Eye Center, continuing education programs for practicing optometrists, and donations and grants including the Greater Vision capital campaign. Contract seat scholarships are offered to students from eight partner states (AR, GA, KS, LA, MS, SC, TN, WV) in exchange for post-graduation commitment to practice in their home state. SCO administers 24 post-doctoral residency programs with 51 positions across multiple partner sites, including VA Medical Centers, Duke University Eye Center, Children's Hospital Colorado, and Ochsner Medical Center.

The technology stack is conventional and education-sector standard: Moodle for learning management, ExamSoft for testing, Panopto for lecture capture, Microsoft Office 365 and SharePoint for communication and collaboration, and clinical equipment (OCT, visual fields, fundus photography) at The Eye Center. The institution reports a 95.31% ultimate NBEO board passage rate, a 0% student loan default rate for 27 of the last 28 years, and has produced 15 American Optometric Association Presidents as alumni. SCO is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Donna Abney and led by President Dr. Richard W. Phillips.

Name

Southern College of Optometry

Legal name

Southern College of Optometry

Website

https://sco.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1932

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Southern College of Optometry is a private nonprofit optometry school in Memphis, TN, founded in 1932, that offers a four-year Doctor of Optometry program to approximately 540 students and operates The Eye Center teaching clinic and 24 post-doctoral residency programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optometry Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Schools of Optometry (EDAHAGAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optometry Clinics (Primary Eye Care) (HLAKAKAB), Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care (HLAKAKAA)

Keywords

• Optometry education
• Professional health education
• Clinical training programs
• Optometric residency programs
• Continuing optometry education

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Professional optometry education with tuition-based revenue model. Financial aid available including loans, scholarships, and work-study programs.
2. Patient Care Revenue: The Eye Center at SCO generates revenue through patient care services including eye exams, optical/eyewear sales, and specialty services.
3. Continuing Education: CE courses and events for alumni and practicing optometrists including Spring CE Weekend, Homecoming CE, and online CE course library.
4. Donations and Grants: Greater Vision Campaign fundraising initiative, planned giving, and donor contributions to support institutional operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Southern College of Optometry (SCO) is a private, nonprofit optometry school offering a four-year Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree program that combines classroom instruction with extensive clinical training at its 55,575 square-foot Eye Center teaching clinic and external externship sites. The institution also provides 24 post-doctoral residency programs across specialties including ocular disease, primary care, low vision rehabilitation, pediatric optometry, and cornea/contact lenses, along with continuing education for practicing optometrists.

Product overview

Southern College of Optometry (SCO) is an educational institution offering a four-year Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree program as its core product. The institution operates The Eye Center at SCO as its primary clinical training facility where students gain hands-on patient care experience. SCO provides post-doctoral training through 24 residency programs with 51 positions across specialties including ocular disease, primary care, low vision rehabilitation, pediatric optometry, vision therapy, brain injury rehabilitation, and cornea/contact lenses. Additional offerings include continuing education courses for practicing optometrists, the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence for career development, Summer Research Fellowship opportunities, and community outreach programs like SVOSH and InfantSEE. The institution also publishes the Visions alumni magazine and maintains the Greater Vision capital campaign. SCO operates 2 patient care clinics in Memphis and offers extensive externship opportunities with approximately 2,600 patient encounters by graduation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Eye Center at SCO: Primary clinical facility operated by Southern College of Optometry for patient care and student training.
• Hayes Center for Practice Excellence

Products and services

• Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) Program Four-year professional Doctor of Optometry degree program preparing students to become optometrists through classroom instruction, laboratory training, and extensive clinical experience at The Eye Center and externship sites.
• The Eye Center at SCO Primary clinical training facility operated by SCO in Memphis providing comprehensive eye care services including primary care, cornea/contact lenses, pediatric optometry, vision therapy, and brain injury rehabilitation, while serving as a teaching clinic for students.
• Residency Programs Post-doctoral specialty training programs offering one-year residency positions across 24 programs in specialties including ocular disease, primary care, low vision rehabilitation, pediatric optometry, brain injury rehabilitation, cornea/contact lenses, and vision therapy at affiliated clinical sites.
• Continuing Education (CE) Professional development courses and events for practicing optometrists, including an online CE course library, Spring CE Weekend, Fall CE, Homecoming CE, and Residents' Weekend.
• Hayes Center for Practice Excellence Career and placement service supporting students and alumni with private practice development, business skills, mentorship, and practice opportunities including the Optometry's Practice Connection (OPC) job board.
• Externship Program Fourth-year clinical rotations at external sites where students gain diverse patient care experience at VA Medical Centers, hospitals, and private practices across multiple states, contributing to approximately 2,600 patient encounters by graduation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95.31% ultimate NBEO board passage rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration16 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency program in ocular disease and full-scope primary care optometry. Residents receive training in therapeutic management of ocular disease, contact lenses for medically necessary needs, and low vision/rehabilitative eye care in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Ochsner Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency in Primary Care in New Orleans, LA. Three-phase supervision plan (Initial, Intermediate, Final) designed to ensure patient safety and foster professional growth toward independent clinical practice.
• Paul Vision InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency in Low Vision Rehabilitation with Emphasis in Ocular Disease in Wilmington, NC. One of the premier residency programs in the US focused on low vision and ocular disease with national reputation for clinical rigor. Stipend of $65,000 provided.
• Duke University Eye CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency program affiliation for advanced optometric training in ocular disease and specialty care.
• Children's Hospital ColoradocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPediatric optometry residency program providing specialized training in children's eye care.
• Memphis VA Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary residency site for ocular disease and primary care training with residency faculty and comprehensive residency handbook.
• James H. Quillen VA Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency program in ocular disease and primary care located in Mountain Home, Tennessee.
• Salem VA Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOcular disease and primary care residency program in Salem, Virginia.
• W. G. Hefner VA Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency program in Salisbury, North Carolina providing training in ocular disease.
• WJB Dorn VA Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency program in Columbia, South Carolina for advanced optometric training.
• Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE)coreOthersACOE grants accreditation status of 'Accredited' to SCO's residency programs, indicating programs meet standards for optometric education.
• ASCO (Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry)coreOthersSCO participates in ASCO profile and resources including Clinical Preceptor Toolkit for externship programs.
• Woolfson Eye InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency program affiliation for low vision and ocular disease training.
• Mooney EyeCare CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency program affiliation for specialized optometric training.
• Moyes Eye CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency program affiliation with mission, goals, and objectives for advanced training.
• Draisin Vision GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency program providing specialized optometric clinical training.
• Georgia Eye PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency program affiliation for ocular disease training in Georgia.
• Greenville VA Outpatient ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency program affiliation for primary care optometry training.
• Eyecare Professionals, P.C.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVision therapy residency program with program description, stipend and benefits, and video testimonials.
• MyVisionFirstminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency program affiliation for pediatric optometry and vision care.
• Wow Vision TherapyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate practice residency program for specialized vision therapy training.
• Bond-Wroten Eye ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency program affiliation for advanced clinical training.
• SVOSH (Student Volunteers in Optometric Service to Humanity)minorOthersStudent organization traveling to rural areas to provide optometric services, with faculty accompaniment.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SUNY College of Optometry: Public optometry college in New York with a comparable OD program and University Eye Center serving as teaching clinic. Comparable mission and clinical-training model but as a public institution rather than private nonprofit.
• Indiana University School of Optometry: Public optometry school within IU with OD program and the Atwater Eye Care Center. Comparable in mission and outcomes focus but public funding structure differentiates the operating model.
• University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry: Public optometry school in the Southeast with a comparable OD program and clinical footprint; geographic peer within SCO's traditional recruitment region.
• University of Houston College of Optometry: Public optometry school within UH with OD program and University Eye Institute. Comparable four-year professional degree and clinical training, structured within a large public R1 university.

Direct peers

• New England College of Optometry: Private, nonprofit optometry school in Boston with a four-year OD program and clinical training at affiliated eye care centers. Comparable academic mission, scale, and tuition-dependent model.
• Illinois College of Optometry: Private, nonprofit four-year optometry school in Chicago with a comparable OD program, on-site clinical training facility, and ACOE accreditation. Closest structurally and operationally to SCO among all peer institutions.
• Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry: Private university housing one of the original U.S. optometry programs with a comparable four-year OD, residency network, and clinical training model. Direct peer in private optometric education.
• Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry: Private university in Florida offering an OD program and accredited residencies within a broader health sciences university. Comparable mission and scale, with multi-program healthcare university structure.
• Midwestern University Arizona College of Optometry: Private optometry school within a multi-program health sciences university, offering a four-year OD with on-site clinical training. Comparable as a newer private optometry program competing for similar applicants.

Emerging players

• Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry: Private health-sciences university in California with a newer OD program. Comparable private, optometry-focused education model but smaller and more recently established clinical infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/SCOedu
• Facebookfacebook.com/300445971137
• Instagraminstagram.com/southerncollegeofoptometry
• Xx.com/sconews
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southern-college-of-optometry

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southern College of Optometry