NECO - New England College of Optometry
Source: http://www.neco.edu
Archived: 2026-04-23 16:55
NECO - New England College of Optometry
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Where You'll Train
NECO's new Clinical Training Center (CTC) represents a bold step forward in our mission to educate the next generation of optometrists.
Read more
The MS in Vision Science
Take your analytical thinking and problem-solving skills to the next level—and become the scientist and researcher that residencies, industry, and academia are seeking.
Read more
NECO's 3+4 Accelerated Program
High-achieving, driven students can fast-track their education and expand their professional opportunities through NECO’s joint degree partnership programs with select undergraduate institutions.
Read more
A Day in the Life
Ever wonder what a typical day is like for a NECO student? This video gives you an idea of balancing school and work lives — with care and intentionality.
Watch the video
The 2025 Industry Collaborative
More than 100 leaders in the field of optometry came together November 3–4, 2025 in Boston to discuss the future of education and clinical care in the age of artificial intelligence.
Read more
We Change the Way
People See the World
Welcome to NECO, where education meets innovation. We advance eye health through compassionate patient care, groundbreaking research, and exceptional clinical education.
Why NECO?
Commencement 2026
Our Commencement page serves as your go-to resource for ceremony details, schedules, ticketing information, regalia guidelines, and important deadlines. Whether you’re a graduating student, family member, or guest, you’ll find clear, up-to-date information to help you plan for a memorable Commencement experience on May 17, 2026.
Read more
Our Doctor of Optometry Program
Become a competent, compassionate optometry professional. Our four-year OD is our most popular academic program, where you can tailor your experience to your career goals, including a dual degree and concentration options.
OD Program Details
Apply to NECO
Funding Your Degree
524
students
NECO has 524 students across its multiple degree programs.
3
concentrations to consider
Pediatric Optometry, Low Vision Rehabilitation, Cornea & Contact Lens.
4
years of clinical experience
Hands-on experience starting within the first few weeks in your first year.
Additional Degree Programs
NECO also offers accelerated, international, and dual-degree programs, as well as a Master of Science in Vision Science.
Accelerated OD Program
International Program
MS in Vision Science
Highlights & Happenings at NECO
Honoring NECO’s 2026 Scholarship Recipients
Commencement 2026: Honorary Degree Recipients, Presidential Medal Award Winner, and Valedictorians
Distinguished Alumni for 2025
A rich history of advancing the future of eye care.
New England College of Optometry has been an innovator in eye care education since 1894. Learn about us and our history.
About NECO
Our Clinical Training Center uses the latest in equipment, including ION cameras.
Innovative Clinical Training & Technology
Learn from forward-thinking faculty members and gain experience with the latest technological advances in optometry.
Clinical Training
Our Research & Innovation
Strong Network of Student Support
A close-knit community like NECO means personalized attention and access to plenty of resources and services that will help you succeed.
Student Support
Diversity & Inclusion
Living & Learning in Boston
From the small, family feel of our intimate, historic campus to all that the thriving Boston region has to offer, you’ll find plenty of ways to get involved and grow professionally at NECO.
Living in Boston
The NECO Network
Community-based. Expansive. Cross-cultural.
Diverse partnerships mean diverse experiences. NECO’s collaboration with community health centers, industry innovators, and more than 50 clinical training sites give our students rich, real-world learning experiences.
Clinical Training
NECO Center for Eye Care
Comprehensive and compassionate patient care is at the heart of the NECO optometry school experience. Working alongside licensed optometrists, our highly skilled students provide primary eye care and specialty services to people of all ages.
Two locations
The
NECO Center for Eye Care
encompasses two teaching facilities: Commonwealth Avenue and Roslindale. It is one aspect of our larger network of training opportunities throughout the region.
Comprehensive Services
NECO Center for Eye Care is one of the most comprehensive eye centers in New England, offering standard and specialty services. These include low vision rehabilitation, myopia control, contact lens services, and vision therapy. As a student, you have the opportunity to learn alongside experts in these areas.
Community Partners and Outreach
When Massachusetts opened its first community health clinic, NECO was there. In the decades since, we’ve provided much-needed access to eye care for residents of Boston and beyond — while providing valuable learning experiences to the next generation of optometrists.
Increasing Eye Care Access
In addition to community health clinics, we serve a range of organizations. These include public schools, VA hospitals, homeless shelters, and low vision centers.
67,500 patients
treated across nine area clinics in one year. Our clinical model enhances access to eye care across the region.
First-year students provide vision screenings to area elementary school students.
Clinical Affiliations & Externship Sites
In your final year, you’ll provide full-time patient care through four faculty-supervised externships: community health, ocular disease, specialty care, and an elective of your choice.
Train in Boston and Beyond
Complete your rotations within our regional clinical network; nationally across 30 states; or at partner sites in China, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Find Your Focus
You can complete rotations in pediatrics, vision therapy, and specialty contact lenses. Electives could take you to Indigenous health centers in Alaska and New Mexico, military clinics in Virginia and Rhode Island, or academic medical centers in the U.S. and abroad.
A fourth-year student takes in the K300 dog sled race during her rotation with Indian Health Services Bethel in Alaska.
Innovation Center
From beta testing emerging equipment to taking part in research, students benefit from the Innovation Center’s collaboration with industry partners to advance the field.
Voices of NECO
Endless Opportunities
Carissa
“As a NECO student I have had the opportunity to connect and network within the optometric industry and even represent the school at a number of high-profile events and conferences. Faculty have extended their professional network to students and have really inspired me to keep going and reminded me why I wanted to be an optometrist.”
Class Year
2025
Connected to
Industry
Noah
“NECO has shown me that each patient is unique and requires the use of not only clinical skills, but also interpersonal skills as well. I have had the opportunity to meet many individuals from different circumstances, and can recognize the importance of this exposure early on in my education will have a tremendous impact on my career and the way I practice.”
Class Year
2025
Connected to
Clinical Skills
Lingjun
“NECO’s accelerated program offered me the chance to treat patients much sooner compared to other programs. During my first semester, I was exposed to pediatric care and learned I had an interest in treating children and pediatric eye diseases. I wouldn’t have figured this out as quickly if I was at another school.”
Class Year
2025
Connected to
Discovery
Why Optometry?
As a doctor of optometry, you see the difference you make in people’s lives every day. One of the most flexible and fulfilling areas of healthcare, optometry is an in-demand, well-paying field.
$134,830
Average annual wage. (BLS.gov, 2024)
Optometry offers a good living—and increased earning potential for practice owners and specialists.
#20
Best Healthcare Job
U.S. News & World Report ranks optometrist among the top 20 healthcare jobs in America for quality of life, pay, and future growth.
Flexible and Versatile
As an OD, you can work in a range of settings: hospital or private practice; education or industry.
Why Optometry?
Explore NECO
We offer many ways to explore NECO. Start with a virtual tour or consultation with our Admissions staff. You can also schedule a Q&A with a current student to learn more about the community of support, clinical training, and academic rigor at NECO.
Visit & Connect
Virtual Campus Tour
Learn more about us.
Request Information
Apply
Take a virtual tour of NECO
Skip to main site navigation
Skip to main content
Where You'll Train
NECO's new Clinical Training Center (CTC) represents a bold step forward in our mission to educate the next generation of optometrists.
Read more
The MS in Vision Science
Take your analytical thinking and problem-solving skills to the next level—and become the scientist and researcher that residencies, industry, and academia are seeking.
Read more
NECO's 3+4 Accelerated Program
High-achieving, driven students can fast-track their education and expand their professional opportunities through NECO’s joint degree partnership programs with select undergraduate institutions.
Read more
A Day in the Life
Ever wonder what a typical day is like for a NECO student? This video gives you an idea of balancing school and work lives — with care and intentionality.
Watch the video
The 2025 Industry Collaborative
More than 100 leaders in the field of optometry came together November 3–4, 2025 in Boston to discuss the future of education and clinical care in the age of artificial intelligence.
Read more
We Change the Way
People See the World
Welcome to NECO, where education meets innovation. We advance eye health through compassionate patient care, groundbreaking research, and exceptional clinical education.
Why NECO?
Commencement 2026
Our Commencement page serves as your go-to resource for ceremony details, schedules, ticketing information, regalia guidelines, and important deadlines. Whether you’re a graduating student, family member, or guest, you’ll find clear, up-to-date information to help you plan for a memorable Commencement experience on May 17, 2026.
Read more
Our Doctor of Optometry Program
Become a competent, compassionate optometry professional. Our four-year OD is our most popular academic program, where you can tailor your experience to your career goals, including a dual degree and concentration options.
OD Program Details
Apply to NECO
Funding Your Degree
524
students
NECO has 524 students across its multiple degree programs.
3
concentrations to consider
Pediatric Optometry, Low Vision Rehabilitation, Cornea & Contact Lens.
4
years of clinical experience
Hands-on experience starting within the first few weeks in your first year.
Additional Degree Programs
NECO also offers accelerated, international, and dual-degree programs, as well as a Master of Science in Vision Science.
Accelerated OD Program
International Program
MS in Vision Science
Highlights & Happenings at NECO
Honoring NECO’s 2026 Scholarship Recipients
Commencement 2026: Honorary Degree Recipients, Presidential Medal Award Winner, and Valedictorians
Distinguished Alumni for 2025
A rich history of advancing the future of eye care.
New England College of Optometry has been an innovator in eye care education since 1894. Learn about us and our history.
About NECO
Our Clinical Training Center uses the latest in equipment, including ION cameras.
Innovative Clinical Training & Technology
Learn from forward-thinking faculty members and gain experience with the latest technological advances in optometry.
Clinical Training
Our Research & Innovation
Strong Network of Student Support
A close-knit community like NECO means personalized attention and access to plenty of resources and services that will help you succeed.
Student Support
Diversity & Inclusion
Living & Learning in Boston
From the small, family feel of our intimate, historic campus to all that the thriving Boston region has to offer, you’ll find plenty of ways to get involved and grow professionally at NECO.
Living in Boston
The NECO Network
Community-based. Expansive. Cross-cultural.
Diverse partnerships mean diverse experiences. NECO’s collaboration with community health centers, industry innovators, and more than 50 clinical training sites give our students rich, real-world learning experiences.
Clinical Training
NECO Center for Eye Care
Comprehensive and compassionate patient care is at the heart of the NECO optometry school experience. Working alongside licensed optometrists, our highly skilled students provide primary eye care and specialty services to people of all ages.
Two locations
The
NECO Center for Eye Care
encompasses two teaching facilities: Commonwealth Avenue and Roslindale. It is one aspect of our larger network of training opportunities throughout the region.
Comprehensive Services
NECO Center for Eye Care is one of the most comprehensive eye centers in New England, offering standard and specialty services. These include low vision rehabilitation, myopia control, contact lens services, and vision therapy. As a student, you have the opportunity to learn alongside experts in these areas.
Community Partners and Outreach
When Massachusetts opened its first community health clinic, NECO was there. In the decades since, we’ve provided much-needed access to eye care for residents of Boston and beyond — while providing valuable learning experiences to the next generation of optometrists.
Increasing Eye Care Access
In addition to community health clinics, we serve a range of organizations. These include public schools, VA hospitals, homeless shelters, and low vision centers.
67,500 patients
treated across nine area clinics in one year. Our clinical model enhances access to eye care across the region.
First-year students provide vision screenings to area elementary school students.
Clinical Affiliations & Externship Sites
In your final year, you’ll provide full-time patient care through four faculty-supervised externships: community health, ocular disease, specialty care, and an elective of your choice.
Train in Boston and Beyond
Complete your rotations within our regional clinical network; nationally across 30 states; or at partner sites in China, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Find Your Focus
You can complete rotations in pediatrics, vision therapy, and specialty contact lenses. Electives could take you to Indigenous health centers in Alaska and New Mexico, military clinics in Virginia and Rhode Island, or academic medical centers in the U.S. and abroad.
A fourth-year student takes in the K300 dog sled race during her rotation with Indian Health Services Bethel in Alaska.
Innovation Center
From beta testing emerging equipment to taking part in research, students benefit from the Innovation Center’s collaboration with industry partners to advance the field.
Voices of NECO
Endless Opportunities
Carissa
“As a NECO student I have had the opportunity to connect and network within the optometric industry and even represent the school at a number of high-profile events and conferences. Faculty have extended their professional network to students and have really inspired me to keep going and reminded me why I wanted to be an optometrist.”
Class Year
2025
Connected to
Industry
Noah
“NECO has shown me that each patient is unique and requires the use of not only clinical skills, but also interpersonal skills as well. I have had the opportunity to meet many individuals from different circumstances, and can recognize the importance of this exposure early on in my education will have a tremendous impact on my career and the way I practice.”
Class Year
2025
Connected to
Clinical Skills
Lingjun
“NECO’s accelerated program offered me the chance to treat patients much sooner compared to other programs. During my first semester, I was exposed to pediatric care and learned I had an interest in treating children and pediatric eye diseases. I wouldn’t have figured this out as quickly if I was at another school.”
Class Year
2025
Connected to
Discovery
Why Optometry?
As a doctor of optometry, you see the difference you make in people’s lives every day. One of the most flexible and fulfilling areas of healthcare, optometry is an in-demand, well-paying field.
$134,830
Average annual wage. (BLS.gov, 2024)
Optometry offers a good living—and increased earning potential for practice owners and specialists.
#20
Best Healthcare Job
U.S. News & World Report ranks optometrist among the top 20 healthcare jobs in America for quality of life, pay, and future growth.
Flexible and Versatile
As an OD, you can work in a range of settings: hospital or private practice; education or industry.
Why Optometry?
Explore NECO
We offer many ways to explore NECO. Start with a virtual tour or consultation with our Admissions staff. You can also schedule a Q&A with a current student to learn more about the community of support, clinical training, and academic rigor at NECO.
Visit & Connect
Virtual Campus Tour
Learn more about us.
Request Information
Apply
Take a virtual tour of NECO