Graduation and Attrition Rates
| YEAR INITIALLY MATRICULATED | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduated in 4 years* | 78% | 91% | 77% | 87% |
| Graduated in 5 or more years | 18% | 0 | 5% | 2% |
| Graduated at any time | 96% | 91% | 82% | 89% |
| Attrition for Academic Reasons | 0 | 2% | 5% | 7% |
| Attrition for Other Reasons | 2% | 7% | 2% | 4% |
| Completed all curricular requirements but not met other graduation requirements | 2% | 0 | 0 | 2% |
| Still enrolled or on a leave of absence | 0 | 0 | 11% | 0 |
*includes students who completed all graduation requirements in the same calendar year as the end of their fourth year.
National Board Exam Passage Rates
The national board exams for optometry are administered by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO). The NBEO is an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to protect the public by assessing the competence of practicing optometrists. NBEO examinations are widely accepted for optometric licensure in the United States.
The performance of UABSO students on all parts of this examination, with very rare exceptions, has been highly successful compared to the national average dating back more than twenty years. UABSO students are required to pass both the basic science (Part I) and the clinical science (Part II) sections of this examination to graduate from the program.
| Graduating Class Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part I | |||
| UAB 1st Time Takers | 77% | 86% | 84% |
| National 1st Time Takers | 76% | 77% | 72% |
| Part II | |||
| UAB 1st Time Takers | 87% | 97% | 98% |
| National 1st Time Takers | 86% | 92% | 89% |
| Part III | |||
| UAB 1st Time Takers | 93% | 80% | 82% |
| National 1st Time Takers | 86% | 81% | 76% |
| UAB Ultimate Pass Rate | 100% | 100% | 95% |
| National Ultimate Pass Rate | 84% | 91% | 92% |
