NBEO Pass Rates and Outcomes
Our NBEO pass rates and employment outcomes demonstrate the academic success our students are capable of achieving. By starting with the highest achievers, we are able to teach beyond the minimum competency of the profession and prepare our students to leverage their full potential in the career of their dreams. We'll let our students' first-time pass rate record show The Buckeye Advantage.
The National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) administers national board exams; passage of these exams is a requirement for practicing optometry in the U.S. Optometry students take these exams during the third and fourth years of their program.
We know that taking board exams is a stressful and costly experience. That's why we work hard to prepare students to pass each part the first time they take it. For example, our pre-clinic area features two exam lanes that are equipped with the identical instrumentation used in the NBEO National Center of Clinical Testing in Optometry for Part III.
NBEO Passage Rates
Published results include the performance of all first-time takers of each NBEO examination Part within the specified timeframe regardless of year of enrollment, year of graduation, or graduation status; first-time taker pass rates published on the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) website are limited to candidates that have graduated.
Testing Period (9/1 - 8/31) |
Ohio State # of first-time takers |
Ohio State first-time taker pass rate |
National first-time taker pass rate |
Program Difference, % points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2024-2025 |
65 |
83.1% |
62.0% |
+21.1 points |
|
2023-2024 |
61 |
93.4% |
66.7% |
+26.7 points |
|
2022-2023 |
66 |
95.5% |
66.1% |
+29.4 points |
|
2021-2022 |
62 |
90.3% |
64.2% |
+26.1 points |
Testing Period (9/1 - 8/31) |
Ohio State # of first-time takers |
Ohio State first-time taker pass rate |
National first-time taker pass rate |
Program Difference, % points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2025 - 2026 |
65 |
98.5% |
TBD |
TBD |
|
2024 - 2025 |
60 |
100.0% |
86.6% |
+13.4 points |
|
2023 - 2024 |
67 |
100.0% |
84.1% |
+15.9 points |
|
2022 - 2023 |
61 |
96.7% |
82.9% |
+13.8 points |
Testing Period (7/1 - 6/30) |
Ohio State # of first-time takers |
Ohio State first-time taker pass rate |
National first-time taker pass rate |
Program Difference, % points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2025 - 2026 |
65 |
72.3% |
TBD |
TBD |
|
2024 - 2025 |
60 |
86.7% |
69.9% |
+16.8 points |
|
2023 - 2024 |
67 |
76.1% |
78.1% |
-2.0 points |
|
2022 - 2023 |
61 |
85.3% |
74.4% |
+10.9 points |
Class of |
Ohio State Pass Rate |
National Pass Rate |
The Buckeye Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2025 |
100% |
82% |
+18% |
|
2024 |
97% |
86% |
+11% |
|
2023 |
98% |
84% |
+14% |
|
2022 |
96% |
88% |
+8% |
Graduation Outcomes
Calendar Year (1/1-12/31) |
# of students who completed all program curricular requirements |
# licensed, or who passed all parts of an exam series that would permit licensure, in the United States or Canada |
Program Completion Licensing Examination Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2025 |
60 |
60 |
100% |
|
2024 |
67 |
65 |
97.0% |
|
2023 |
61 |
60 |
98.4% |
Entry Year |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Number or Matriculants |
69 |
66 |
68 |
68 |
|
Graduated in 4 years |
64 |
59 (89.4%) |
63 (92.6%) |
61 (89.7%) |
|
Graduated in 5 years or less |
TBD |
60 (90.9%) |
64 (94.1%) |
65 (95.6%) |
|
Graduated at any time |
TBD |
60 (90.9%) |
64 (94.1%) |
65 (95.6%) |
|
Still enrolled or on leave |
2 (2.9%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
|
Attrition for Academic Reasons |
3 (4.3%) |
2 (3.0%) |
2 (2.9%) |
2 (2.9%) |
|
Attrition for other reasons |
0 (0%) |
4 (6.0%) |
2 (2.9%) |
1 (1.5%) |
Class |
Employment Finalized at time of Graduation |
Employed at 1 year after graduation* |
|---|---|---|
|
2025 |
91.7% |
96.7% |
|
2024 |
87% |
96% |
|
2023 |
93% |
97% |
|
2022 |
88.2% |
95.5% |
*Bases on verified self-reported data.