Welcome
The Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) is a fully accredited academic institution conducting a broad array of educational, research, clinical and community programs.
PCO's evolution from a single-purpose, premier college of optometry into a multifaceted institution has been driven by the spirit and vision of its founder Dr. Albert Fitch, who established its distinctive character by stating that:
"A proper college of optometry...must compare with any of the colleges of the other health professions, such as Medicine and Dentistry, and be on a par with the best of them."
Over the decades, this institutional philosophy has been translated into: an enduring and progressive commitment to academic excellence; distinctive clinical training programs rooted in "real-world" community based settings; a strong biomedical science foundation; an interdisciplinary environment that promotes and respects the interdependent role of all service providers; and an aggressive commitment to professional development, at the individual, professional and international levels.
Today, PCO provides professional and graduate degree programs, both on a full and part-time basis, to approximately 1,500 students from around the world. While our target student population remains the Mid-Atlantic region, our reach and impact is increasingly national and international. The College has over 7,000 alumni. The instruction takes great pride in the diversity of its students and alumni, as they enrich the learning environment and promote greater sensitivity and responsiveness to society's health care needs.
PCO is a private, specialized academic institution holding IRS status as a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization.