Learn more about UPIKE and why it is the right choice for you.
See if UPIKE is a good fit for you and take the next steps in becoming a student.
The vision for the College of Dental Medicine is to be known and respected for service, innovation, clinical excellence and interprofessional education.
We are practitioners of the healing arts defining the standard for excellence in optometric education and vision care.
Our D.O. medical school is nationally ranked and recognized for a reputation of excellence in rural medicine and family healthcare. UPIKE’s osteopathy program gives you a clear path to success in the medical field.
Explore our online undergraduate and graduate programs and learn more about earning your degree at UPIKE.
Located in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, the Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) is the only college of optometry in Kentucky. Become part of a community of medical professionals providing vision care to those who need it most, and learn in an environment built with the future of optometry in mind. At KYCO, faculty, staff and administration embrace the expanded scope of optometric practice in Kentucky with unique clinical experiences and a challenging curriculum. KYCO students are afforded an abundance of rewarding clinical opportunities serving patients in need.
All equipment, textbooks and technology are provided at no additional cost to students.
Students serve patients from the blindest region in the U.S. in community clinics and hospitals.
Practice with new and advanced equipment and technology in KYCO’s innovative 103,000 square foot facility.
The Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) held its traditional White Coat Ceremony on Saturday, April 6, in the Health Professions Education Building. Fifty-three members of the Class of 2026 received their white coats before a gathering of family, friends and university faculty. KYCO Dean Renee Reeder, O.D., FAAO, FBCLA, FSLS, FIACLE, welcomed guests and remarked […]
The University of Pikeville (UPIKE) is pleased to announce that Renee Reeder, O.D., was recently appointed the new dean of the Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO). Reeder began working at UPIKE in 2018 and has made remarkable contributions to optometric education. Upon completing her residency, she joined the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) faculty. During her […]
The Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO), in partnership with leading eyewear company Zenni Optical, recently awarded first-year optometry student Grace Skarohlid with the Zenni Eyecare Access Scholarship. The $2,500 annual scholarship is awarded to an incoming optometry student dedicated to providing eye care to an underserved community after graduation. Zenni partners with optometry schools to […]
As the University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) welcomed its new class of incoming students in mid-August, third-year students are building on their education by practicing their skills in clinical settings. KYCO Class of 2022 valedictorian Brittany Varney, O.D., has taken on the role of optometrist at Big Sandy Health Care, where she is […]
The University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) congratulates Elijah Riffe, recipient of the 2023 VSP Vision of Hope Scholarship. The scholarship is funded by VSP Vision™ and awarded annually to an excelling, first-year KYCO student who intends to practice in the rural Appalachian region. Riffe, a native of Ripley, W.Va., received $5,000 toward his […]
Three students from the Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) recently earned a full-ride scholarship through the Air Force Allied Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP). James Morrison, Mitchel Taylor and Isabel Virgille were commissioned by Captain Logan Gentry, 30th CSSB Operations Officer, Tennessee Army National Guard, on August 28. The HPSP program is a service scholarship […]
An industry partner of the University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) has graciously pledged $6400 toward the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) grant fund that began in 2020. The grant project started as a way for KYCO to help remove financial barriers and increase diversity in the optometry profession. MyEyeDr., a private equity company that […]
More than 400 University of Pikeville (UPIKE) students celebrated their achievements by earning their degrees during the spring commencement ceremonies for undergraduate, graduate and health professions on Saturday, May 6, at the Appalachian Wireless Arena. Graduates and their families were able to attend the in-person ceremonies or watch virtually via livestream. Read more here Kentucky […]
#kycofirst
The University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry is an accredited member of the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) of the American Optometric Association (AOA). The ACOE is the specialized accrediting body for optometry that provides quality assurances concerning educational preparation of members of the optometric profession. The Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) is next scheduled for a reaccreditation visit by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) in 2028.
Contact information for ACOE can be found at:
Accreditation Council on Optometric Education243 N. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141Telephone: 800-365-2219Email address: accredit@theacoe.orgWebsite: www.theACOE.org
To review accreditation, approval, or licensing documentation, please contact the Dean’s Office at 606-218-5510