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The Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the world’s leading optometric schools. Thanks to our curriculum, faculty, and clinical resources, ICO graduates enter the real world best prepared to practice. Illinois College of Optometry Make a real difference in optometry and the world. The ICO Difference We are one of the world's leading optometric institutions for good reason. Learn in the heart of Chicago. In Chicago Our location provides you with a diverse array of patients - ultimately making you a better doctor. Work with real patients in the clinic from year 1. We get you into clinic early because we believe you learn best when classes are paired with real-world clinical experiences. In the Clinic Join over 8,000 alumni More connections means better opportunities for your career. In the World Our program is for optometrists, by optometrists. Every course, every lab is built to prepare you to be the best doctor of optometry possible. In the Classroom HEAR FROM FACULTY & STUDENTS What is it really like to. . . support real people in a real clinic? be part of the ICO family? live and study in Chicago? be a Doctor of Optometry? We are a perfect collaboration between a community that wants to give and a community that is in need of service. - Leonard Messner, OD MAKE A DIFFERENCE Real Patient Story from Illinois Eye Institute REAL PATIENTS IN A REAL CLINIC Over 85,000 patient visits in our clinic, Illinois Eye Institute, every year. Why ICO? Make a real difference in optometry and the world. Watch the Film Let's get you started Learn how to apply Schedule a visit Shadow an Optometrist Vision of Hope Please consider supporting! Give Today COMMITTED TO YOUR VISION Learn More Make a Gift Continuing Education Our annual symposium takes place this month. We will focus on Glaucoma. From diagnosing to treatment, we have a packed schedule! Learn More Class of 2026 Commencement Relive ICO's 183rd Commencement. Congratulations, doctors! Watch Here S.V.O.S.H. Our annual symposium takes place this month. We will focus on Glaucoma. From diagnosing to treatment, we have a packed schedule! Give Today White Coat Ceremony Watch the Class of 2028 White Coat Ceremony at 2:00 pm, August 23, 2025 Watch Live Homecoming 2025 The future is bright at ICO! Join us September 5 - 7 for Homecoming 2025! More details and registration link can be found by clicking the button below. Learn More Recent News Illinois College of Optometry Names Tracy Matchinski, OD, FAAO, The Rosenbloom Family Professor in Low Vision Rehabilitation View All News Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Michael Chaglasian View All News My Interview Day Experience View All News View All News Catch the very latest on Instagram. Follow ICO on Instagram

ICO gives its students a rich clinical education rooted in biomedical science. Courses include human anatomy, immunology, pharmacology, and more, centered around optometry and the eye. Home • In the Classroom • NBEO Scores NBEO Scores Check the numbers. Courses & Curriculum Student Resources NBEO Scores Faculty Research at ICO Library As students progress through the ICO curriculum, and provided they remain in good academic standing, they will be eligible to take the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) series of examinations. The National Board Examinations are required for licensure by every state in the United States. ICO students historically exceed the national pass rate on all parts of the NBEO exam. Program Completion Licensing Exam Rate The Program Completion Licensing Exam Rate is the proportion of students completing all of a program’s curricular requirements within a calendar year who, by the end of that calendar year, are licensed, or have passed all parts of an examination series that would permit licensure, in the United States or Canada. NBEO Part I Applied Basic Science NBEO Part II Patient Assessment and Management NBEO Part III Patient Encounters and Performance Skills NBEO Ultimate Pass 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 ( link ) are limited to candidates that have graduated. Illinois College of Optometry does not require passage of any part of NBEO for graduation, and therefore none of our data has been excluded. 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. For graduation rates and further information on student success, visit here.

ICO gives its students a rich clinical education rooted in biomedical science. Courses include human anatomy, immunology, pharmacology, and more, centered around optometry and the eye. Home • In the Classroom • Student Resources Student Resources Helping you succeed at ICO Courses & Curriculum Student Resources NBEO Scores Faculty Research at ICO Library ICO’s Student Success Initiatives For nearly all students, professional studies catalyze several personal and academic transitions. The Student Success Program provides resources to aid in your continued growth through these transitions.  The Student Success Center offers resources to improve your performance across a spectrum of learning styles and goals.  They also support students who learn differently.  If you are a student who experiences disabilities that impact your learning, we want to ensure that reasonable  accommodations are in place to create a level playing field for optimal learning.  Tutoring It is very common to get a tutor at ICO. ICO tutors are upper-level students who have done well in the course they tutor. They are very flexible, so you’ll get to choose what you want to review and how you want to review it! Mental Health All ICO student have access to multifaceted mental wellness resources through UWILL (https://app.uwill.com/ ) and Talk Campus. The UWILL program includes 24/7 tele-support (UHELP), readily available virtual counseling (UMATCH), a wellness information hub (URISE), as well as complimentary access to the mindfulness app called Headspace. Talk Campus is a global peer support platform that connects students to other students across the globe. As a complement to UWILL, TalkCampus is an app that ICO students can use to connect, share and feel understood. Academic Coaching Academic Coaching at ICO is offered by upper-level students. They’re there for all sorts of peer guidance whether academic or just as a sounding board. The Academic Coaches create a non-judgmental space where you can ask hard questions or just vent. ICO Connects Our ICO Connects Program matches every first-year student in small groups with a faculty member. Your ICO Connects faculty member acts as a mentor and builds rapport with you, tracks your academic performance, and offers ‘right on time’ support/recommendations for improvement. Your ICO Connects faculty member is more than just an academic advisor, they’re here to support you as you develop into a professional within optometry.  Beth Karmis, Assistant Dean for Student Success Beth Karmis facilitates all the programs listed above, but also routinely meets with students about any issues related to student life and academic performance. Ms. Karmis connects students directly to existing programs or help identify other resources.  Ms. Karmis also serves as the College’s ADA Coordinator for students who experience conditions that may impact their access to the ICO program.  

Home • In Chicago • Housing Housing Find the place you belong. Day in the Life Student Blog Housing Clubs & Organizations Health & Safety You have two options when choosing housing in Chicago: living at the RC or living off campus. Living at the Residential Complex There is no more convenient place to live than the RC. Located directly across the street from ICO, you will have direct access to ICO facilities just a few steps away. Especially for first- and second-year students, the RC provides a terrific opportunity to get to know your class better. Throughout the year, many events are organized by the RC team. Most first-year students start by living in a suite with other first-year students and if they choose to stay, move upstairs to private apartments during their second and third years. Some students even choose to stay in the RC all four years! ICO partners with IIT to provide dining options for our students. Their cafeteria is about a three minute walk from ICO. Students who live in a single or large single room in a suite are required to enroll IIT's Block230 meal plan. Show me the R.C.! 2024-25 ROOM RATES Rates listed per person, per academic quarter Housing in Chicago For those who want a bit of distance between work and home or those who are moving to the city with a partner or a furry friend, there are many options to rent as well. Most students will choose to live in one of three areas: around ICO (the Bronzeville neighborhood), in Bridgeport, the nearest neighborhood to ICO, or in the South Loop (downtown!) If you come from the east or west coast, rent is usually more affordable in Chicago. If you come from a smaller town, you may find the rental prices high in Chicago. For its size, Chicago is a relatively inexpensive city. Chicago has a great public transit system that is a great way to travel and avoid traffic jams. For those commuting via car, your search can be expanded, but you can expect a significant commute as streets in Chicago get crowded, especially during rush hour. Housing Insecurity Support In accordance with the Illinois Higher Education Housing and Opportunities Act , the Illinois College of Optometry is committed to supporting students that may be at-risk of housing insecurity. Click here for more information.

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Home Consumer Information Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Reporting-- Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students Section 18004(e) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act” or the “Act”)), Pub. L. No. 116-136, 134 Stat. 281 (March 27, 2020), directs institutions receiving funds under Section 18004 of the Act to submit (in a time and manner required by the Secretary) a report to the Secretary describing the use of funds distributed from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (“HEERF”). Section 18004(c) of the CARES Act requires institutions to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received from Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care). On April 9, 2020, the Department published documents related to the Emergency Financial Aid Grants, including a letter from Secretary Betsy DeVos, a form Certification and Agreement for signing and returning by institutions to access the funds, and a list of institutional allocations under 18004(a)(1) . The Certification and Agreement directs each institution applying for HEERF funds to comply with Section 18004(e) of the CARES Act and submit an initial report (the “30-day Fund Report”) to the Secretary thirty (30) days from the date of the institution’s Certification and Agreement to the Department. The Department will provide instructions for providing the required information to the Secretary in the near future. In the meantime, each HEERF participating institution must post the information listed below on the institution’s primary website. The Department would like to receive the most current information from the date when the institution received its allocation for emergency financial aid grants to students, and the institution should have received its allocation within a few days after submitting the Certification and Agreement. Accordingly, the following information must appear in a format and location that is easily accessible to the public 30 days after the date when the institution received its allocation under 18004(a)(1) and updated every 45 days thereafter: An acknowledgement that Illinois College of Optometry signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. ICO has received $429,835 of which 50% was required to be used to grant emergency funds to our students. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter). ICO paid a total of $251,696 in emergency grants to students. The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. ICO provided grants to 390 federally eligible students. In recognition of our international student population also experiencing COVID related emergency costs, ICO additionally used our own institutional funds to supply grants to those not eligible under the federal program. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. ICO provided 390 federally eligible students with Emergency Financial Aid grant funds under this Section. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. ICO divided funds equally across our student population ensuring that every federally eligible student received federal dollars and then ICO matched for our non-eligible students out of our ICO institutional budget. Since all of our students are graduate students and were impacted by the program changes necessitated by the pandemic we elected to utilize the most equitable manner of administering the funds. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants. ICO provided notifications to students that these funds were made available to them to offset costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic that were incurred as a result of increases in educationally related expenses related to travel, increased costs for foods and personal items and supplies related to the transition to an off-campus learning environment. Quarterly Reporting September 2020 Quarterly Reporting December 2020 Quarterly Reporting March 2021 Quarterly Reporting June 2021 Quarterly Reporting December 2021 Quarterly Reporting March 2022 00168900_HEERF_Q22022_070822 00168900_HEERF_Q32022_100522 00168900_HEERF_Q42022_010923 00168900_HEERF_Q12023_070723 00168900_HEERF_Q22023_070723

Home • In Chicago • Dr. Newton K. Wesley Research Center Dr. Newton K. Wesley Research Center Participate in pioneering research. Wesley Research Center The EyePod Residential Complex Library Gym Built in collaboration with the Dr. Newton K. Wesley Foundation, this center is a dedicated research space on campus. The center will house specialty research rooms and a modular center that changes based on research needs. This space triples the size of our current research suite. Learn what research is like at ICO. Patients participating in clinical research trials will be directed to the Dr. Newton K. Wesley Research Center for all of their exams. Our amazing patient population is the biggest reason we can continue our groundbreaking research. As one of the largest optometric institutions in America, you will have the opportunity to deepen your knowledge of specific areas of interest no matter what they may be. Research at ICO now encompasses every stage of your optometric journey whether you’re a student, a resident or faculty, you’ll see there is a topic that may interest you! The Dr. Newton K. Wesley Research Center has been built to accommodate research’s growing needs. Our research will continue to expand, and we look forward to having a space that expands with us.

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Home • In the Classroom In the Classroom at Illinois College of Optometry Courses & Curriculum Student Resources NBEO Scores Faculty Research at ICO Library We know that you are coming to ICO well prepared. We also know there is a lot more to learn before you can provide the best possible care to your patients. Your clinical and classroom experience will challenge you, but we will work hard to ensure that you are prepared at every step of the way. We prepare you to diagnose and manage both common and rare conditions. Every year as your knowledge and experience grows, the conditions you treat will become more complex. Your education will prepare you to identify and treat anything from common refractive issues to rare sight threatening diseases. Courses & Curriculum at ICO You will have the support you need. We recognize that optometry school can be challenging. We want to make sure that throughout your optometric journey, you have the support you need: whether for tutoring or venting. Student Resources Four Years in Four Courses YEAR 1 Applied Ocular Anatomy BVS107 In Ocular Anatomy, you will learn the ins and outs of the eye. No Doctor of Optometry can treat diseases without having a full understanding of the eye’s anatomy. This course serves as the basis for all of your subsequent ocular disease courses. Clinical Methods & Procedures IV Taken in the Fall Quarter of your Second Year, this course teaches you the fundamentals of examining the health of the eye from front to back. YEAR 2 POP 262.1 We prepare you for the most advanced scope of practice, and this course instructs you in the use of laser procedures and surgical techniques relevant to optometric eyecare. Ophthalmic Lasers & Surgical Procedures YEAR 3 OCD370 Clinical Methods & Procedures IV YEAR 4 Resident Rounds during IEI Patient Care Rotation Your fourth year is all practical. Externships will take you all over the US and the world, but a portion of your fourth year will be spent in the IEI where you can participate in Resident Rounds. During Resident Rounds, you'll learn about hallmark cases picked from real IEI patients that our residents and attendings have treated. Learn More About Your Curriculum NBEO Pass Rates ICO students score above the national pass rate average on the National Board of Examiners in Optometry. You can see pass rates from the last four years by clicking the button. NBEO Scores ICO Faculty All Faculty Dr. Courtney Luce Dr. Geoffrey Goodfellow Dr. Christine Allison Dr. Stephanie S. Messner Dr. Jaymeni Patel Dr. Michael Chaglasian Research at ICO Year over year, research at ICO has grown tremendously. Now there are opportunities at every stage of your optometric journey. As always, the quality of our clinic allows us to stand out amongst our peers. Research Initiatives