The Opportunities in Optometry Grant is a grant from the American Optometric Association (AOA) Foundation that funds under-represented minority students interested in pursuing careers in optometry. Awards of $1,500 are available twice per year, with application deadlines of May 1 and December 1.

The grant is jointly supported by the AOA and the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) and is designed to promote inclusion and diversity in the optometric profession for future generations. Applicants should allow up to 60 days after each deadline for review and notification. Students with questions may contact Molly Brown, the Optometry Cares Program Manager, at mbrown@aoa.

org. The 2026 application cycle is currently open.

Opportunities in Optometry | The AOA Foundation Opportunities in Optometry Opportunities in Optometry News Opportunities in Optometry Opportunities in Optometry To promote inclusion in the optometric profession for generations to come The 2026 Opportunities in Optometry application is now open. The application deadlines are May 1 and December 1 .

Please allow up to 60 days after the deadline for us to review applications and notify you if you are selected for a grant, pending available funding. If you have questions on the application, please reach out to the Optometry Cares Program Manager, Molly Brown, mbrown@aoa. org .

To promote inclusion in the optometric profession for generations to come, the American Optometric Association (AOA) and the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) have created the AOA/AOSA Opportunities in Optometry Grant program. This fund is designed as a one-time stipend for under-represented minority students interested in the field of optometry to help defray the costs associated with applying to optometry school.

Multiple grants of $1,500 each will be awarded annually to students who are chosen by the selection committee. Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria to be considered by the selection committee. These funds can be used toward the very first steps necessary when pursuing a doctor of optometry degree – offsetting the cost of the OAT exam, school application costs, professional attire or travel costs associated with interviews.

The AOA Community and Engagement Advisory Committee and the AOSA are committed to paving a path toward a broader and more inclusive profession. The AOA/AOSA Opportunities in Optometry Grant program is a sustained effort to encourage under-represented minorities to join the family of optometry and expand access to primary eye care across the nation.

If you would like to support this initiative, Optometry Cares – The AOA Foundation is accepting donations . Your contribution can help offset the cost of study materials, application fees, or transportation for an optometry school interview for an Opportunities in Optometry grant recipient.

Grant Eligibility Criteria Must be a member of one of the following ethnic groups that are currently underrepresented in the optometry professions when compared to overall representation in the United States: African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American/Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Must be a student at a four-year, accredited institution within the U.S., carrying the minimum requirements as stated for the program per semester/quarter, or have completed an undergraduate degree with optometry prerequisites.

This grant is for students applying to optometry school within the next 12 months. Students are only eligible to receive this grant one time. Current optometry school students are not eligible for this grant opportunity.

A 2. 75 or greater grade point average is suggested. If you do not meet this requirement, there is a spot on the application to clarify why you think your GPA does not accurately reflect your academic capabilities.

Must be planning to attend an optometry school in the United States/Canada and planning to practice in the U.S. after graduation If awarded a grant, an important note about grant payment for those who do not have a U.S. Tax ID Number. Under U.S. Law, payments to non-resident alien individuals and foreign entities are subject to a mandatory 30% tax withholding unless an exemption or reduced rate applies under a tax treaty.

Grant Evaluation Criteria Academic achievement (i.e., grades, SAT, ACT, GRE, GCE, etc.), Personal essay describing optometric career goals, current and past relevant extracurricular activities (i.e., participation in Black Eyecare Professionals Preoptometry Club, Diversity in Optometry, etc.) References (i.e., teacher, guidance counselor, optometric mentor, employer, etc.), and Grant Application Checklist Opportunities in Optometry Grant Application Unofficial transcripts from your college/university.

(If you are selected as a grant recipient, you must provide official transcripts.) The following essay questions should be answered individually on the application form; or, if submitting video or infographic materials, follow the instructions for uploading the files: A 250-word paragraph on why you believe it’s important to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in the field of optometry.

Please include any accomplishments relevant to increasing awareness about diversity in your community. Using a medium of your choice (video, infographic, written, etc.) advertise YOU! Help us learn what makes you special and how this grant will impact your life.

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