Use DO school rankings to find the best osteopathic medical schools and choose the best programs for you. If you are still deciding between DO vs MD, this blog will help you determine whether DO programs are right for you and provide you with the most up-to-date list of DO school rankings.
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DO School Rankings: Easiest and Hardest DO Schools to Get Into
Below are the easiest and hardest osteopathic medical schools to get into, including overall DO school acceptance rates, average MCAT score, and GPA.
DO School Rankings: DO Schools with Best Match Rates
- Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine - California (TUCOM - CA) — Match rate: 100%
- Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine (OSU - COM) — Match rate: 99.8%
- Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCU - COM) — Match rate: 99.6%
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) — Match rate: 99.6%
- Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) — Match rate: 99.6%
- Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM) — Match rate: 99.5%
- Lincoln Memorial University- DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU - DCOM) — Match rate: 99.5%
- Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine - Nevada (TUN-COM) — Match rate: 99.5%
- Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) — Match rate: 99.3%
- TIE — University of Pikeville - Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine (UP – KYCOM) — Match rate: 99.2%
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - Philadelphia campus (PCOM) — Match rate: 99.2%
- Rowan-Virtua University School of Osteopathic Medicine (RowanSOM) — Match rate: 99.2%
- University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNTHSC - TCOM) — Match rate: 99.2%
Applying to DO programs? Here's how we helped our DO applicants get into the best schools:
DO School Rankings: Residency Match Rates
Is an osteopathic medicine program right for you?
DO School Rankings: Best Based on Board Scores
The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX Level 1, COMLEX Level 2 PE, COMLEX Level 2 CE) is a critical step for osteopathic medical students in the United States. First-time pass rates for COMLEX can be an indicator of a medical school's academic quality and the effectiveness of its preparation for this examination, as well as its academic support for students. Strong first-time pass rates are also a good indication of preparedness for residency applications, as some programs will look at your COMLEX scores when evaluating you.
School-specific data on COMLEX pass rates are not always readily available, as not every osteopathic med school release this information, but some DO school rankings show certain schools that consistently post high COMLEX first-time pass rates.
Some osteopathic medical schools have historically been recognized for high COMLEX first-time pass rates include:
- Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU-COM) — 99% first-time pass rate
- Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) — 99% first-time pass rate
- University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM) — 98.7% first-time pass rate
- Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DMU - COM) — 98.1% first-time pass rate
- Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVUCOM) — 97.6% first-time pass rate (7-year avg.)
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine- Bradenton Campus (LECOM - Bradenton) — 97.2% first-time pass rate (6-year avg.)
- Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University (CCOM) — 97.1% first-time pass rate (5-year avg.)
- Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM) — 97.0% first-time pass rate (7-year avg.)
- Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine- Nevada (TUNCOM) — 96.4% first-time pass rate
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine- Erie Campus (LECOM) — 96.3% first-time pass rate (6-year avg.)
Keep in mind that some DO students may choose to take the USMLE Step 1 exam, too. As an osteopathic student, you will be required to complete COMLEX, but the USMLE (the MD equivalent), is optional. Still, Dr. Shaughnelene Smith, DO, says some osteopathic students choose to take both since residency programs sometimes have a preference for one exam or the other:
“Almost 90% of my medical school class took the USMLE and the COMLEX; typically, if a student takes both exams, they do the USMLE first, and within the next three or four days, they do the COMLEX exam. I will not lie; having two back-to-back exams that are that large is brutal to go through, but students typically like to do both so that they don't limit themselves for residency applications … however, I would advise you to look into both exams before ultimately making the decision.” – Dr. Shaughnelene Smith, DO, Kansas City University Osteopathic Medical School
FAQs
1. How can I improve my application to osteopathic medical schools?
“The most challenging part was navigating the complexities of the application process, particularly understanding the unique aspects valued by DO programs. I wish I had known more about the emphasis on osteopathic principles, hands-on experiences, and the holistic approach to patient care. Additionally, having a clearer understanding of how to effectively communicate my alignment with these principles in my application would have been beneficial … Reach out to current DO students, graduates, or practicing osteopathic physicians. Building connections with individuals in the field can provide valuable insights into the profession and strengthen understanding of what DO schools are looking for in applicants.” – Dr. Cathleen Kuo, MD, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine
2. Should I apply to both DO and MD schools?
"I applied to both types of school because I wanted a diverse range of different programs. I applied to a number of schools that were in range of my stats … I believed that the DO school I went to offered the most comprehensive education. It was the best in terms of match rate, 1st-time board pass rate, and had a good reputation in securing students the rotations they wanted.” – Dr. Tony Huynh, DO, TUN-COM
“I chose to apply to DO school because it is easier to get in than MD school … [and] because I would rather be able to get into the medical school the first time applying. I also did not have much extracurricular activities and research in college.” – Dr. Cathleen Kuo, MD, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine
“There is a lot of OMM in the curriculum and if you’re not interested in it you will start to resent it (I saw this in several classmates). Also, your clinical rotations may not be as robust and you may have to make the most out of it/find opportunities on your own. If you don’t handle that well, you might reconsider going DO.” – Dr. Justin Stacer, DO, ATSU-KCOM
3. What should I consider beyond rankings when choosing a DO school?
Prospective students should consider accreditation, curriculum style, location, cost, clinical rotation opportunities, and personal fit, in addition to rankings, when choosing a DO school.
“Ultimately, my decision was based on where I wanted to practice once I was qualified. Being trained as a medical student in the US and becoming board certified personally offered me the best diversity in practice in my later years for where I hoped to live and raise a family.” – Dr. Shaughnelene Smith, DO, Kansas City University Osteopathic Medical School
“Location and admission statistics [influenced where I applied] … there were closer options to home by applying to both MD and DO programs, and I felt I would increase my chances of admission.” – Dr. Noah Heichel, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
4. How do DO school rankings impact residency placement?
DO school rankings can play a role in residency placement, as they often reflect factors like the quality of clinical training and institutional reputation. However, individual performance, clinical experiences, letters of recommendation, and personal interviews are also crucial components in securing a residency position. Prospective students should consider a school's residency placement record in their field of interest in addition to its ranking.
“Personally, my medical school did not have a home hospital directly affiliated with our program … therefore, it can often be more challenging for DO students to find rotations in the more competitive fields as they will have to seek them elsewhere … Being a DO student did not influence my ability to complete international rotations. I could easily set up rotations within South Africa in my final year as a medical student, and I had several colleagues complete rotations in clinics abroad, such as in Kenya and Guatemala, without issue … My advice is that if you want to pursue a DO program and are interested in a more competitive specialty, be prepared to network well and ensure you apply to away rotations well in advance to establish this for yourself.” – Dr. Shaughnelene Smith, DO, Kansas City University Osteopathic Medical School
5. Can lower-ranked DO schools still provide excellent medical education?
Absolutely. Many lower-ranked DO schools offer high-quality education, robust clinical experiences, and excellent residency placement rates. It's important to evaluate schools based on individual goals and preferences.
To your success,
Your friends at BeMo
BeMo Academic Consulting
Disclaimer: although we have made every effort to provide the most accurate information, admissions information changes frequently. Therefore, we encourage you to verify these details with the official university admissions office. You are responsible for your own results. BeMo does not endorse nor affiliate with any official universities, colleges, or test administrators and vice versa. If you see an error here, please notify us with the updated information, and we’ll send you a FREE copy of a BeMo ebook of your choosing! You can receive our Ultimate Guide to Med School Admissions, our Ultimate Guide to MMI Prep, our Ultimate Guide to Medical School Personal Statements & Secondary Essays or our Ultimate Guide to CASPer Prep! Please email us at [email protected] with any corrections, and we’ll arrange to send you your free ebook upon confirming the information.
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1 Comments
Ella
I like the information they used to make the rankings, very good strategies!
Reply