Home Consumer Information Contact Us Office of Admissions applications, interviews, scholarships, incoming transcripts, deferrals, withdrawals Phone: 312-949-7400 or 800-397-2424 Fax: 312-949-7480 Email: admissions@ico.edu Teisha Johnson Senior Director of Admissions tjohnson@ico.edu 312-949-7407 Latasha Jackson Assistant Director of Admissions ljackson@ico.edu 312-949-7406 Liz Hoskins Admissions Data Coordinator ehoskins@ico.edu 312-949-7413 Registrar's Office Office of Financial Aid financial aid Email: finaid@ico.edu Lauren Brooks Assistant Director of Financial Aid lbrooks@ico.edu 312-949-7445 Office of Student Affairs Residential Complex (RC), orientation, immunizations, student organizations, White Coat / President's Welcome Ceremony Beth Karmis Senior Director of Student Development bkarmis@ico.edu 312-949-7415 Debra Albers Director of Student Engagement dalbers@ico.edu 312-949-7405 schedules, grades, ICO transcripts, international students, veterans Geoffrey Goodfellow Registrar ggoodfel@ico.edu Phone: 312-949-7425 Fax: 312-949-7680 Email: select "Registrar's Office" from this form

Dennis Home • In the Classroom • Faculty • Dennis Ireland, OD, M Ed Dennis Ireland, OD, M Ed Clinical Assistant Professor of Optometry Email: DIreland@ico.edu Part Time Faculty Kaori Asano, OD Eric Baas, OD Stephen Beckerman, OD, FAAO Pamela Boyce, OD Grace Castells, OD Kara Crumbliss, OD Robert Donati, PhD Helen M. Gabriel, OD, FAAO Colleen Govekar, OD David Gurka, PhD, MD Dennis Ireland, OD, M Ed Karina Langle, OD Taryn Majewski, OD Michelle K. Man, OD, FAAO, FSLS Joseph McCray, OD Erik Mothersbaugh, OD, FAAO Catherine Niermann, OD, MS, FAAO Nathan Okano, OD Mary Flynn Roberts, OD Rahnuma Saiyed, OD, FAAO Louise Sclafani, OD Shmaila Tahir, OD Alex Tan, OD Bruce Teitelbaum, OD Michael Zost, OD Why ICO? Profile not available. Biography Special Interests Education Experience Awards & Honors Professional Organizations Publications

Home • Admissions • Visiting ICO • Recruitment Events Recruitment Events Meet ICO Admissions members in your area. How to Visit Recruitment Events Focus on Your Future Keep checking this space for upcoming recruitment events near you! For more information please visit why.ico.edu ICO representatives visit dozens of sites across the U.S. and Canada. We’d love to meet you! Refer to the list below to see when we’ll be in your area. If you would like ICO to meet with your student organization, please email admissions@ico.edu

Home • Alumni • Stay Informed • Continuing Education Continuing Education Join us for a lifetime of learning ICO Matters Continuing Education Share Your News One of the goals of Illinois College of Optometry is to provide lifelong education to optometrists. We believe that by enhancing your knowledge base, you will be able to improve the efficiency of your practice, serve your patients better, become a more successful doctor, and thereby strengthen the profession. The Continuing Education Department offers certified and regular courses both on-campus and online. We offer a variety of topics to choose from, and all courses are submitted for COPE approval. ICO CE is open to all optometrists, not just alumni. Continuing Education We currently have no events scheduled. Check back here for details. Mullen-Ernest Symposium: 2026 Glaucoma Sunday, February 1, 2026 Hybrid Program, tested CE only available for in-person attendees 6 Hour COPE approved CEE/TQ In-Person Agenda 8:20 AM Welcome and Introductions 8:30 AM Session 1 : Glaucoma Diagnostics 10:10 AM Break 10:30 AM Session 2 : Glaucoma Treatment 12:30 PM Lunch + PER 1-hour lunch and learn 2:00 PM Session 3 : Hot Topics in Glaucoma, Ask the Experts CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Residents Day Program Sunday, March 8, 2026 Hybrid Program, tested CE only available for in-person attendees 6 Hour COPE approved CEE/TQ In-Person Agenda 8:20 AM: Welcome and Introductions 8:30 AM: Session 1 10:10 AM: Break 10:30 AM: Session 2 12:10 PM: Lunch 1:30 PM: Session 3 REGISTER FOR EVENT HERE Homecoming 2026 Sunday, October 18, 2026 Hybrid Program, tested CE only available for in-person attendees 6 Hour COPE approved CEE/TQ In-Person Agenda 8:20 AM: Welcome and Introductions 8:30 AM: Session 1 - Eric Harris and Danielle Piser "The Cataract Surgery Continuum: From Referral to Recovery" 10:30 AM: Session 2 - Christopher Diehl "I Had Cadillac Surgery and it Didn’t Work! Managing Patient Expectations in the 21st Century" 12:30 PM: Break 1:30 PM: Session 3 - Jennifer Harthan and Louise Sclafani "When Life Throws you a Curve: Prime Time Management of Keratoconus" REGISTER FOR EVENT HERE Fall CE Program Saturday, November 7, 2026 Blair Lonsberry, OD - Oral Pharm in Primary Care Optometry and Interactive Grand Rounds (4 hours) Raman Bhakhri, OD, Leonard V. Messner, OD - Optic Neuritis 2026: From Demyelination to Neuroprotection (2 hours) Sunday, November 8, 2026 Jennifer Harthan, OD - Ocular Surface Disease Symposium (6 hours) REGISTER FOR EVENT HERE Illinois Compliance Virtual Courses Programs open until March 22. Certificates will be sent after completion of the program on March 23. All licensees must take the following courses each licensing period: Sexual Harassment Prevention training (1 hour) Dementia Awareness training (1 hour) Implicit Bias training (1 hour) Cultural Competency training (1 hour) Safe Opioid Prescribing (1 hour IF licensee holds controlled substance license) REGISTER FOR ON-DEMAND COURSES ICO Fall CE Program Sunday, November 9, 2025 In-person 6 hrs. TQ/CEE 8:30am - 3:10pm (CST) In-Person Agenda Sunday, November 9, 2025 8:30 AM Session 1 : Erica Ittner, OD: “Ocular Complications of Pregnancy” 10:10 - 10:30 AM Break 10:30 AM Session 2 : Mason Clark: “Infectious Diseases that Optometrists Need to Know” 12:10 - 1:30 PM Lunch 1:30 - 3:10 PM Session 3 : William Skoog, OD: "Emerging Cancer Treatment and Ocular Adverse Events" REGISTER FOR EVENT HERE Upcoming Programs Save the dates for these upcoming programs: Mullen-Ernst Symposium (6 hrs) Sunday, February 7, 2027 Topic: Pediatric and Binocular Vision Event Chair: Dr. Valerie Kattouf Resident's Day CE (6 hrs) Sunday, April 18, 2027 Grand rounds style presentation of "best cases" from the year For Illinois ODs 2025-2026 Illinois Continuing Education Requirements Every 2-year licensing period, ODs must complete 30 hours of Continuing Education. 12 hours of certified (TQ) CE must be completed in person 18 hours can be completed in person or virtually through an Illinois approved CE provider (licensed through IDPR) Online CE is not eligible for out of state CE credit. On demand or print (journals, etc) CE courses require a post-test to verify complete. These do not count as certified (TQ) CE. All licensees must take the following courses each licensing period: Sexual Harassment Prevention training (1 hour) Dementia Awareness training (1 hour) Implicit Bias training (1 hour) Cultural Competency training (1 hour) Safe Opioid Prescribing (1 hour IF licensee holds controlled substance license) New graduates do not need to complete CE requirements during their first licensing period with the exception of the five required courses listed above. To see the statute in its entirety, you can visit the IDPR page here . Helpful Links: IL Dept of Professional Regulation Illinois Optometric Association IN Professional Licensing Agency, Board of Optometry WI Dept of Safety and Professional Services American Optometric Association American Academy of Optometry Online CE Online_Cont-Ed Our online CE portal offers access to COPE-approved courses developed by leading content experts right here at ICO! Registration is easy. Just click the link below to access our portal and sign up. Once logged in, you’ll have access to ICO’s CE courses anytime, anywhere. Courses are viewable for a full week after purchase, and can be conveniently paused to suit your schedule. ICO ONLINE CONTINUING EDUCATION ICO ONLINE CONTINUING ED Looking for More? Missing some continuing education documentation? Fill out this form to request materials. You can also email continuinged@ico.edu or call 312-949-7426 .

Student Financial Services at ICO can help FAFSA applicants find the most affordable way to attend optometry school. Loans, work-study, scholarships, and other opportunities are available. Home • Admissions • Funding Your O.D. • Federal Aid Federal Aid Discover ways to fund your doctorate Federal Aid ICO Scholarships Cost of Attendance Federal Work Study The Federal Work-Study Program provides jobs for students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages jobs in support of the community and work related to your course of study. You may work up to 15 hours per week during the school year, and rates of pay are based on the type of position and skill level required. Federal work study is not a loan and does not have to be repaid upon graduation. Work study is a great way to help pay for living expenses that you don't want to put on a student loan. Health Professions Student Loans One of the Health and Human Services Loan programs, HPSL, is available to full-time students attending ICO who demonstrate family financial need. These are subsidized loans with an interest rate of five percent and a 12-month grace period after graduation. The government pays the interest during periods of eligible enrollment, grace or eligible deferment. This loan has a 10-year repayment term unless it is included in a Direct Loan Consolidation.   If you want to apply for the HPSL program, you also need to complete an ICO HPSL Application that allows you to report your guardian's financial information. As a graduate student, you are considered an independent student for financial aid and parent data is only used to determine eligibility for HPSL. By supplying the information, your parent(s) are not accepting any responsibility for the loan. However, all income and asset information of your parent(s) needs to be completed on the FAFSA in order to apply. This form is available from the financial aid office. Direct Unsubsidized Loans Direct Unsubsidized Loans have a fixed interest rate that is established each July 1st for the life of the loan. Each year, you will take out a separate loan to cover that particular year. There is a six-month grace period upon graduation (or ceasing to be enrolled at least half-time). You will have between 10 to 25 years to repay your loan depending on which repayment plan you choose. Unsubsidized loans are not awarded on the basis of need. Interest will accrue from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. Your loans will disburse quarter by quarter and interest begins accruing after each disbursement. If you allow the interest to accumulate, it will be capitalized after graduation – that is, the interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan and additional interest will be based upon the higher amount. Under the Direct Unsubsidized Loan, health professions graduate students can generally borrow up to $50,000 for each of the four academic years. The actual loan amount you receive is based on your need and any other forms of assistance you may be receiving. The aggregate loan limit from all Direct Unsubsidized Loans is $200,000 for your ICO degree. Direct Graduate PLUS Loans Most of our US eligible students will first finance their education through the Department of Education’s Student Loan program. Through the Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program, eligible students can borrow up to $50,000 per year for four years. Students needing additional funds can seek loans through private education lenders. ICO will work with the lender of the student’s choice, we do not have a preferred lender list. You can compare lenders our students have selected in the past here.

Home Consumer Information Jobs at Illinois College of Optometry Important Links Job Opportunities at ICO Click here for positions currently available at ICO. Transparency in Coverage United Health Care creates and publishes machine-readable files on behalf of ICO’s self-funded health plan. To access these files, please click on the URL provided: Transparency in Coverage (uhc.com) Campus Conduct and Title IX Please click here to view this policy. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Please click here to view this policy. Campus Safety Please click here to view this policy as a PDF.

Home • In Chicago • The Residential Complex The Residential Complex Home can be right next door. There really is no more convenient place to live than the RC! We offer up to 200 students a friendly atmosphere and easy access to all of ICO’s amenities. You can study with colleagues in lounges or the computer lab. When it’s time for a break, fire up the grill or simply lounge on the patio or sun deck. Wesley Research Center The EyePod Residential Complex Library Gym Find your home away from home. The R.C. is just across the street from ICO. So you'll never be late to those 8:00 a.m. exams! The first three floors of the RC contain suites, with three students living in each. Every suite has a single bedroom, a double bedroom, and a large, shared bathroom. The RC’s fourth floor features one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. These are a popular choice for upper classmen. There are lots of places to relax throughout the RC. Some of our students’ favorite haunts include the rooftop terrace and the pool table. Living in the RC is a great way for students to get to know each other during their 1st year. Not only does it provide ample opportunity for you to interact with your class, the RC also organizes dozens of outings throughout the city. There’s always something to do!

Home • In the Clinic • Externships Externships See the world, help the world see. Illinois Eye Institute Research Opportunities Outreach Summer Opportunities Externships Residency Program You spend your fourth year putting your clinical skills to use. We make sure that part of your fourth year will be spent away from the IEI experiencing other clinical settings. As one of the oldest and largest optometry schools in the nation, we have more externship options than almost any other optometry school. We proudly offer more than 150+ Affiliated Externship Sites 40+ Over states represented 5+ Opportunities in other countries Every year, our preceptors enthusiastically mentor the next generation of optometrists. Because of our preceptors’ commitment, we offer a large variety of practice modalities. Whether your interests lie in OD/MD practices or community health centers, you will find the right site for you. We offer externships in private practices, hospitals, universities, Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC), and military bases. This is also your time to discover what specialties you might want to pursue as a Doctor of Optometry. These include primary care, ocular disease, pediatrics/binocular vision, contact lenses, or low-vision rehabilitation. Externships are a fantastic way to see the nation and the world, all while applying your skills to provide top-notch vision care. Externship Preceptors Interested in opening your business to host ICO students? We love creating growing our network of exeternship opportunties! Learn More

Home Consumer Information Drug Free Campus and Workplace Policy Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Programming Alcohol and drug abuse prevention programming and information is offered by the Student Affairs Office and is available to students and College employee. The programming is conducted at the start of the academic year primarily during New Student Orientation. All students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to attend. In accordance with the Drug Free Schools and Campus Act of 1989, the College is dedicated to the prevention of illegal possession, use, and sale of alcoholic beverages and drugs by the campus community. The campus is committed to the vigorous enforcement of State and Federal drug laws and state underage drinking laws. These programs deal with elevating awareness of alcohol and drug abuse. Students are encouraged to contact the Senior Director of Student Development 312-949-7415 for individual counseling or with any concerns for themselves or their peers regarding alcohol or drug related problems. If necessary, the student will be assisted in locating professional counseling services. Employees looking for confidential assistance may also contact ICO’s Employee Assistance Program, Lifeworks, at 877-234-5151 , or visit LifeWorks.com . Drug-Free Campus/Work Place Policy The Illinois College of Optometry affirms its commitment to a drug-free campus/workplace. For information about the dangers of drug abuse reference "Drug Facts " or visit the National Institute of Health’s drug abuse webpage . A paper copy of “Drug Facts” is also available from the Office of Student Development and the Office of Human Resources. Drug related issues are detrimental for ICO students in both personal and professional ways. There are specific policy violations that can impact a student’s enrollment, eligibility for financial aid as well as future ability to be fully licensed. The College prohibits the manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession or use of a controlled substance by students, including those employed by the College, on the premises of the College and at any of its auxiliary clinical sites. Any violation of this policy is to be dealt with immediately in the manner prescribed by law. Each student agrees to: • Abide by the terms of the above policy on prohibition of controlled substances • Notify the Dean for Student Affairs within 5 days of any conviction under any criminal drug statute for a violation occurring during enrollment at the College (including auxiliary clinical sites). Appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal, will be taken against a student who has experienced such a conviction. The College reserves the right to conduct searches of any student's locker or on-campus residence when there is a reasonable suspicion of the use or sale by the student of controlled substances at any time, or the consumption of alcoholic beverages while engaged in academic or clinical activities. Suspension of Eligibility for Drug-Related Offenses In general, a student who has been convicted of any offense under any Federal or State law involving the possession or sale of a controlled substance shall not be eligible to receive any grant, loan, or work study assistance under this title during the period beginning on the date of such conviction and ending after the interval specified as follows: If convicted of an offense involving: 1) The possession of a controlled substance: First Offense - 1 Year of ineligibility Second Offense - 2 years of ineligibility Third Offense - Indefinite ineligibility 2) The sale of a controlled substance: First Offense - 2 years of ineligibility Second Offense - Indefinite ineligibility Rehabilitation - A student whose eligibility has been suspended may resume eligibility before the end of the ineligibility period determined under such paragraph if: • The student satisfactorily completes a drug rehabilitation program • The rehab program above includes two unannounced drug tests • The conviction is reversed, set aside, or otherwise rendered nugatory If you have any questions pertaining to the Federal Drug Violation penalties, you may contact the Department of Education at 1-800-433-3243. Students, Faculty and Staff – Annual Updates The College’s Drug and Alcohol Abuse and Prevention Information and Programming is reviewed annually as part of the review of the Campus Security and Fire Safety Report. (Most recent review September 2018.)

To apply to ICO, prospective students must complete a series of college-level, pre-optometry school courses. Home • Admissions • Applying to ICO • Due Dates & Pre-Reqs Due Dates & Pre-Reqs Preparing you for optometry school 3+4 Program Due Dates & Pre-Reqs Entering Class Profile Interview Day International Admissions Last date to submit OptomCAS application: May 1, 2027 Last OAT or GRE Test Date Accepted: May 1, 2027 How to apply: Complete the OptomCAS application and collect all needed documents through OptomCAS. You will need to submit your OAT scores. Remember to factor in the studying for and taking of that test before you join in the fall. Be sure to list ICO when you submit your application. The application cycle typically begins at the end of June. Required materials for applicants: Two letters of recommendation Academic (Pre-Health Advisor, Science Professor and/or Academic Committee) Non-relative practicing Optometrist Transcripts from your prior schools Your OAT or GRE score. Prerequisites We have found that science-specific courses completed at 4-year universities tend to better align with the types of courses students take at ICO. Grades of C or higher are accepted. Courses do not need to be completed before applying and can be planned or in-progress at the time of your application. Additionally, we strongly encourage the completion of human-based biological science courses. We welcome applicants from any and all undergraduate majors. It is possible for exceptional non-degree candidates to be considered once they have completed a minimum of 90 semester hours or 135 quarter hours prior to enrolling at ICO. When these candidates graduate from ICO, they can also graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Visual Science. There are specific requirements for this degree to learn more, visit our degree requirements page. Category Minimum Semester Hours Minimum Quarter Hours Courses per Category English Composition/Literature 2 6 9 Or similar graded non-remedial writing courses. One course in public speaking is acceptable. College Calculus 1 3 4.5 Pre-calculus is not acceptable. Statistics 1 3 4.5 Business statistics is not recommended. Psychology statistics or biostatistcs are acceptable. Biology with Laboratory 2 6 9 General biology, physiology, zoology and comparative anatomy are all acceptable. Botany does not apply. Microbiology with Laboratory 1 3 4.5 Bacteriology is also acceptable. General Chemistry with Laboratory 2 6 9 Inorganic Chemistry is also acceptable. Organic Chemistry 1 3 4.5 Laboratory is not required. Physics with Laboratory 2 6 9 The sequence does not need to be calculus-based. Psychology 1 3 4.5 Both introductory and upper-level psychology courses are acceptable. Social Science 1 3 4.5 Economics, political science, anthropology, sociology or an additional psychology course are acceptable. English Composition/Literature Or similar graded non-remedial writing courses. One course in public speaking is acceptable. Total courses needed: 2 Minimum Semester Hours: 6 Minimum Quarter Hours: 9 College Calculus Pre-calculus is not acceptable. Total courses needed: 1 Minimum Semester Hours: 3 Minimum Quarter Hours: 4.5 Statistics Business statistics is not recommended. Psychology statistics or biostatistics are acceptable. Total courses needed: 1 Minimum Semester Hours: 3 Minimum Quarter Hours: 4.5 Biology with Laboratory General biology, physiology, zoology and comparative anatomy are all acceptable. Botany does not apply. Total courses needed: 2 Minimum Semester Hours: 6 Minimum Quarter Hours: 9 Microbiology with Laboratory Bacteriology is also acceptable. Total courses needed: 1 Minimum Semester Hours: 3 Minimum Quarter Hours: 4.5 General Chemistry with Laboratory Inorganic Chemistry is also acceptable. Total courses needed: 2 Minimum Semester Hours: 6 Minimum Quarter Hours: 9 Organic Chemistry Laboratory is not required. Total courses needed: 1 Minimum Semester Hours: 3 Minimum Quarter Hours: 4.5 Physics with Laboratory The sequence does not need to be calculus-based. Total courses needed: 2 Minimum Semester Hours: 6 Minimum Quarter Hours: 9 Psychology Both introductory and upper-level psychology courses are acceptable. Total courses needed: 1 Minimum Semester Hours: 3 Minimum Quarter Hours: 4.5 Social Science Economics, political science, anthropology, sociology or an additional psychology course are acceptable. Total courses needed: 1 Minimum Semester Hours: 3 Minimum Quarter Hours: 4.5 Application Checklist For step-by-step instructions download our application checklist. Your Journey to ICO To see your full application journey visit why.ico.edu Frequently asked questions Are there any resources to shadow an optometrist? ICO has a number of alumni that offer shadowing opportunities throughout the US and Canada. To be paired with an ICO alumni that you can shadow near you (or if you live in Chicago, arrange a shadowing opportunity in our clinic!) Fill out this form. What is the Bachelor of Science in Visual Science (BSVS) degree? The BSVS degree is available only to those students who entered ICO without a bachelor’s degree. However, the BSVS Degree is not a terminal degree and does not connote graduation from the Illinois College of Optometry. The degree is only awarded with the Doctor of Optometry degree at Commencement, and it requires an application available from the Registrar’s Office. The BSVS degree includes humanities, social studies, and human-related biological sciences courses taken at the undergraduate level in combination with courses taken within the ICO curriculum. More details regarding eligibility are available on the application and within ICO's Student Guide. What is the minimum OAT/GRE score? No minimum OAT score is required, but you can see how ICO first years generally performed on our Entering Class Profile. Only OAT and GRE scores reported within the last two years are acceptable. When should OAT/GRE be complete? Your test must be completed by the application deadline. If you change your testing date after you submit your ICO application, please contact Admissions immediately. What if my ICO pre-requirements aren’t completed? Not all admissions requirements need to be completed before applying. As long as you take the GRE or OAT by ICO’s application deadline and you successfully complete all academic requirements by August of your desired year of entry, you may apply. After I submit my OptomCAS application, when will I hear from the Office of Admissions? Once your application has been verified by OptomCAS, we will notify you via email. It takes approximately 1-2 weeks after your application has been verified to hear from our office.

Home Consumer Information Estimated Cost of Attendance (2019 - 2020) Year 1 Direct Educational Expenses $48,117 Living Expenses Total: $19,290 or $2,143/month Year 2 Direct Educational Expenses $62,876 Living Expenses Total: $25,720 or $2,143/month Year 3 Direct Educational Expenses $57,241 Living Expenses Total: $25,720 or $2,143/month Year 4 Direct Educational Expenses $45,877 Living Expenses Total: $25,720 or $2,143/month

Home • Give • Your Impact at ICO Your Impact at Illinois College of Optometry Giving Initatives Your Impact at ICO Make a Gift Gift Planning There are so many ways you can give back to ICO. Whether you choose to support our patients in the clinic, ground-breaking research done by our specialists, or by helping incoming students, you elect how you would like your gift directed. Annual Report 2025 Download the Annual Report. Click to Download Past Annual Reports 2024 Report 2023 Report 2022 Report 2021 Report 2020 Report 2019 Report 2018 Report