“A graduate-only health sciences university built around one of America's oldest schools of optometry.”
Marshall B. Ketchum University (MBKU) is a small, private health-sciences-focused university in Fullerton, California, with roots that reach back to 1904, when Dr. Marshall B. Ketchum opened the Los Angeles School of Ophthalmology and Optometry. That school evolved into the Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO) — the third-oldest school of optometry in the United States and the oldest west of the Mississippi — and remains the heart of the university today. SCCO relocated to its current Fullerton campus on Yorba Linda Boulevard in 1973, and in 2013 the institution restructured as Marshall B. Ketchum University to house multiple health professions colleges under one umbrella. MBKU is NOT a traditional undergraduate university. It does not offer bachelor's degrees, has no freshman class, and does not participate in undergraduate-level enrollment systems like the Common App or UC Application. All ~686 students are enrolled in graduate, post-baccalaureate health professions programs across three colleges: the Southern California College of Optometry (Doctor of Optometry, MS in Vision Science), the School of Physician Assistant Studies (Master of Medical Science, the first accredited PA program in Orange County, launched in 2014), and the College of Pharmacy (Doctor of Pharmacy, first class 2016). A Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program for practicing PAs launched in 2025. There is no MSN nursing program at this university. The campus culture is intimate, interprofessional, and clinically oriented. MBKU brands itself around the ICARE values (Innovation, Caring, Accountability, Respect, Excellence) and emphasizes collaborative care across optometry, PA, and pharmacy students through its Ketchum Health interprofessional clinics in Anaheim and Los Angeles. For prospective international undergraduates, MBKU is not a fit — it should be considered only by students who have already completed a bachelor's degree and are pursuing graduate health-professions training.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Test Required — All applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores.
Official SourceOD (OptomCAS) — Rolling
OD applications accepted July 1, 2026 – March 15, 2027 for Fall 2027 entry; rolling admissions, apply early.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$53,250 – $65,000
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Founded in 1904, SCCO is the third-oldest school of optometry in the United States and the oldest west of the Mississippi. Accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), it offers the four-year post-baccalaureate Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree as well as a research-oriented MS in Vision Science.
Launched in 2014, SPAS was the first accredited PA program in Orange County. The 27-month post-baccalaureate program leads to a Master of Medical Science degree and prepares graduates to sit for the PANCE national certification exam.
Established in 2014 with its first class entering in 2016, the College of Pharmacy offers a four-year post-baccalaureate Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree with an emphasis on interprofessional, patient-centered care alongside optometry and PA students.
4 years
The flagship four-year clinical doctorate at the third-oldest school of optometry in the U.S. Trains optometrists at Ketchum Health clinics in Anaheim and LA; graduates take the NBEO and qualify for licensure across the U.S. and Canada.
2.25 years
27-month, cohort-based PA program — the first accredited PA program in Orange County. Heavy clinical rotation component and PANCE preparation. Note: the PA program does NOT admit students who require an F-1 student visa.
4 years
Four-year post-baccalaureate PharmD with an interprofessional curriculum that places pharmacy students alongside future optometrists and PAs in clinical settings.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
