Last Updated on September 30, 2026
Quick answer: Osteopathic medical schools award the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. DO physicians are fully licensed to practice medicine in the US, train in the same ACGME-accredited residencies as MDs, and learn osteopathic manipulative treatment. You apply through AACOMAS, and there are 48 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine across 36 states.
DO Programs: A Comprehensive Guide to Osteopathic Medical Schools
You’ve gathered your transcripts, drafted your personal statement, committed to some impressive extracurricular activities, and are all set to apply to medical school with high hopes. But then, you see your MCAT score and your heart sinks. It’s far below the median scores for all of the top medical schools. In fact, you’re not even sure that you can apply to any MD school at all. You’re probably wondering if you have to repeat this entire exhausting process, and let months of hard work go to waste. Fear not. This is where osteopathic medical schools come in.
It’s not uncommon to be rejected from every medical school you apply to. Many qualified applicants do not receive an MD acceptance on their first try. Admission remains highly competitive, so it makes sense to look at other options as well. So it’s time to expand your list beyond MD schools, and think about some Doctors of Osteopathic medical schools (DO) as well.
To help you better understand osteopathic medical schools, I’ve outlined exactly what DO schools are, which schools offer DO programs, what the typical curriculum looks like, and the major differences between DO and MD schools. I have also elaborated on the application process for osteopathic medical schools around the country.
What Are Osteopathic Medical Schools?
Osteopathic medical schools train students for a holistic approach to patient treatment and healthcare. Through a focus on hands-on natural treatments and promotion of a healthier lifestyle, DO schools teach their students to improve patients’ overall well being and focus on the prevention of diseases. Along with the full medical curriculum, as a DO student you would also receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system.
If you think you might be missing out on learning key skills by opting for DO schools, think again. Osteopathic doctors are trained physicians as well, and learn to perform different kinds of medical procedures, including surgeries. As the demand for spots in medical schools increases, applications to DO schools have increased as well. Today, more than 39,200 students are enrolled in osteopathic medical schools, nearly 30 percent of all U.S. medical students. [1]
Which Schools Offer DO Programs?
Osteopathic medicine was founded in 1874 by physician and surgeon Andrew Taylor Still. [1] Dr. Still was dissatisfied with the limitations of conventional medicine and wanted to approach patient care through the “osteon” or the bone. So, he founded the first school of osteopathy – the American School of Osteopathy – which still exists today as A.T. Still University. DO schools have been founded throughout the country since. According to the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), there are 48 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine, with 75 teaching locations in 36 states. [1]
Just like for MD schools, osteopathic medical schools require you to submit your MCAT score, transcripts, and letters of recommendation (each school has specific requirements, so check!). According to AACOM, students who entered DO programs in 2024 had an average overall GPA of 3.59. [2] Explore medical schools with lower MCAT medians if you are still building your list.
The table below lists many DO schools with average GPA, MCAT score, acceptance rates (where reported), and location from earlier reporting years; confirm current figures on each school’s website before you apply.
| School | Location | Mean MCAT (AACOM college profile, Sept 2026) | Avg. cumulative undergrad GPA (AACOM college profile, Sept 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine | Kirksville, MO | 502.9 | 3.62 |
| A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona | Mesa, AZ | 502.6 | 3.56 |
| Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine | Dothan, AL | 503.6 | 3.58 |
| Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (Midwestern University) | Glendale, AZ | 504.1 | 3.62 |
| Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine | Fort Smith, AR | 498.7 | 3.56 |
| Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine | Las Cruces, NM; Melbourne, FL | 500.0 | 3.46 |
| Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific | Pomona, CA; Lebanon, OR | 508.4 | 3.72 |
| Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine | Harrogate, TN; Knoxville, TN; Orange Park, FL | 497.0 | 3.60 |
| Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine | West Des Moines, IA | 507.1 | 3.71 |
| Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (Virginia campus) | Blacksburg, VA | 503.2 | 3.68 |
| Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine | Athens, OH; Cleveland, OH; Dublin, OH | 503.5 | 3.68 |
| Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Kansas City, MO; Joplin, MO | 504.5 | 3.68 |
| Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine | Erie, PA (plus additional campuses) | 502.3 | 3.64 |
| Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Lynchburg, VA | 503.3 | 3.63 |
| Marian University Tom and Julie Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine | Indianapolis, IN | 500.8 | 3.77 |
| Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine | East Lansing, MI; Clinton Township, MI; Detroit, MI | 506.7 | 3.75 |
| New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine | Old Westbury, NY; Jonesboro, AR | 504.6 | 3.69 |
| Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine | Yakima, WA | 502.8 | 3.55 |
| Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine | Philadelphia, PA; Moultrie, GA | 502.5 | 3.58 |
| University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine | Pikeville, KY | 498.6 | 3.51 |
| Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Englewood, CO; Ivins, UT | 504.4 | 3.61 |
| Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine | Vallejo, CA | 506.1 | 3.59 |
| Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (New York) | Harlem, NY; Middletown, NY; Great Falls, MT | 501.4 | 3.48 |
| Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine | Henderson, NV | 505.6 | 3.63 |
| University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine | Portland, ME | 503.0 | 3.58 |
| University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine | San Antonio, TX | 504.8 | 3.60 |
| West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine | Lewisburg, WV | 501.0 | 3.62 |
| William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Hattiesburg, MS | 498.1 | 3.50 |
While DO programs are still highly competitive, you can see that the MCAT scores and GPA of students accepted into DO schools are far lower than those at the top MD schools. Acceptance rates and score ranges vary widely from one DO program to the next, so compare each school’s published data as you build your list. The takeaway: MD schools are significantly more difficult to get into.
The majority of osteopathic medical schools are located in the midwest and the south. There are a few on the west coast, and a handful on the east coast. Beyond what meets the eye from looking at the table, these programs have a lot of great features which make them solid schools to put on your list.
All DO schools are not identical. Many of them are known for impressive statistics or facilities. If you’re worried about residency placements, DO schools have got you covered. DO seniors achieved a match rate of 93.2 percent in the 2026 National Resident Matching Program. [1] DO programs also attract a diverse population: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine prides itself on increasing the number of underrepresented minorities in medicine. If you’re most excited about clinical exposure, you wouldn’t be missing out by attending an osteopathic medical school! Many DO schools partner with hospitals and health systems in their regions, which gives students clinical training sites close to campus.
There are a lot of great options to choose from, depending on which criteria you prioritize the most in your medical training.
Curriculum for Osteopathic Medical Schools
Osteopathic medical schools help you master the art of manual medicine in the treatment of patients. The DO curriculum is designed to help you become an expert physician in a way that even MD training might not – such as the emphasis on bones and muscles.
Your four years at DO schools are divided into two halves, similar to MD programs: year one and two are the preclinical years, while the latter two are the clinical years. In the preclinical years, you focus more on studying biomedical and clinical sciences, including:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Biochemistry
- Behavioral science
- Internal medicine
- Medical ethics
- Neurology
- Osteopathic manual medicine
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
- Preventive medicine and nutrition
- Clinical practice
The last two years, as the name suggests, will provide you with more hands-on clinical exposure. During these years you’ll focus on clinical training and sub-internships in the various specialties.
Alongside medical training, you will study osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), also called osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), which AACOM describes as a required and foundational element of the DO curriculum. [3] Many students prefer this philosophy and apply to DO schools to learn this method specifically. A lot of course material in osteopathic medical schools is dedicated to learning the structure of the human skeleton, in order to better understand the function of each bone and muscle.
Osteopathic practice also places a solid emphasis on allowing the body to heal itself naturally instead of relying on ways that might be deemed unnatural, or using catalysts that speed up the healing process. As a result, another priority of osteopathic manipulative medicine method is to avoid any obstacles the body might have to naturally healing itself, and letting it take its time instead. Asserting that the DO approach appeals to you should definitely be an important part of your DO application!
DO vs. MD
Even after learning more about DO schools, you might be unconvinced. Letting go of a long-held plan to earn an MD is not easy. So you should know exactly what you are missing out on if you attend an osteopathic medical school. Outlined below are some of the key differences between MD and DO schools.
| Criteria | MD Schools | DO Schools |
|---|---|---|
| Number of schools | 163 U.S. medical schools accredited by the LCME (AAMC, 2026) | 48 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine at 75 teaching locations in 36 states (AACOM) |
| Application requirements | AMCAS application, transcript, MCAT score, personal statement highlighting why you want to become a doctor, school-specific requirements, letters of recommendation | AACOMAS application, transcript, MCAT score, personal statement highlighting why you want to become a DO, letters of recommendation |
| Residency options | ACGME-accredited residencies through the NRMP Main Residency Match. 2026 match rate for U.S. MD seniors: 93.5% | The same ACGME-accredited residencies through the NRMP Main Residency Match (single accreditation system since 2020). 2026 match rate for U.S. DO seniors: 93.2% |
| Exam to obtain medical license | United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) | Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States (COMLEX-USA) |
While your options might be limited in some ways, such as fewer schools to select from, DO graduates have access to the same residency programs as MD graduates. Since the transition to a single graduate medical education accreditation system concluded in 2020, DO and MD graduates apply to the same ACGME-accredited residency programs. [4] If you want to keep building your osteopathic skills, look for residencies with ACGME Osteopathic Recognition, which integrate osteopathic principles into training.
What Can You Do With an Osteopathic Medicine Degree?
You’re probably wondering exactly what your career might look like if you choose the osteopathic route after medical school. Most DOs specialize in general and family medicine, general internal medicine and general pediatrics. DOs tend to work more in rural and underdeveloped areas. According to AACOM, nine of the top 10 schools with the most primary care graduates are osteopathic. [1]
Just like any other physician, as a DO you can diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication to patients. You can also become a surgeon. Though most students don’t go this route, DO graduates also match into surgical specialties such as general and orthopedic surgery.
There isn’t a set career path or limitation – DO specialists work in trauma units, sports medicine, pediatrics, and more. If you enjoy research, you can also work in one of the thousands of labs around the country working to find the causes of different illnesses and developing more effective treatments.
Applying to DO Schools
Although DO colleges tend to accept students with lower GPAs and MCAT scores, admission into osteopathic medical schools is by no means a shoo-in. Because there are so few DO schools around, with a number of spots available, the demand is actually very high.
Start your AACOMAS application as soon as it opens, since many DO schools review applications on a rolling basis. While the requirements for the AMCAS and AACOMAS are similar for the most part, both the AACOMAS and AMCAS personal statements have a 5,300-character limit, so you can adapt one essay for both systems.
Deadlines vary by school, so check each program’s AACOMAS deadline as you build your list. Interview invitations often go out on a rolling basis, so prepare early with common osteopathic medical school interview questions.
Your personal statement and overall application need to reflect solid communication and interpersonal skills, a record of community service, appreciation for the DO philosophy, and clinical experience (specifically in osteopathic practice). DO schools want to know you are interested in osteopathic medicine, and many look for applicants who have shadowed an osteopathic physician and gained knowledge of the field, along with possessing solid motivation to pursue a career in osteopathic medicine. It should not seem that you just decided at the last minute to scurry and fill out your DO application. Keep osteopathic medical schools in mind beforehand, and take initiatives to pursue DO-related work experiences.
If you feel like your GPA or MCAT score aren’t solid enough for medical colleges in the country, consider osteopathic medical schools. But don’t take the DO admissions process for granted just because it may seem like less of a challenge on paper. Trust me, you have your work cut out for you. As more students look toward the DO option, the process is getting more and more competitive. Osteopathic medicine introduces you to a whole new kind of healing philosophy, and who knows, you might just end up applying to one of the DO schools, and falling completely in love with it!
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