The number of colleges of osteopathic medicine has grown steadily over the past two decades, giving pre-med students more options than ever when applying to medical school. While every DO program prepares graduates to become fully licensed physicians, each school differs in its curriculum, mission, research opportunities, tuition, and admissions profile.
This guide includes a comprehensive database of accredited DO schools in the United States, along with our picks for the top DO schools, based on factors such as clinical training opportunities, affordability, and student support. Whether you're committed to the osteopathic philosophy or building a balanced school list alongside MD programs, this guide can help you identify programs that best fit your goals.
Use our free Med School Chance Predictor to calculate your odds of acceptance at MD and DO programs nationwide. Enter your GPA, MCAT, and other metrics to see your odds at each school.
Browse every accredited DO school in the U.S. Compare average GPA, MCAT scores, and location to determine which DO schools to apply to before exploring each one in more detail. All programs included in this guide are accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), the recognized accrediting agency for colleges of osteopathic medicine.
Every applicant defines the "best" medical school differently. Some programs stand out for research opportunities and academic reputation, while others excel in primary care training or residency placement. The schools below consistently rank among the strongest DO programs with excellent opportunities for aspiring physicians across a variety of career paths.
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine is one of the largest and most established osteopathic medical schools in the country. The school is known for its strong emphasis on primary care, community-based education, and training physicians to serve diverse populations throughout Michigan and beyond. MSUCOM offers a distributed medical education model in which students complete clinical training across multiple community campuses.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine is one of the most affordable DO schools in the country, especially for Texas residents. As a public osteopathic medical school, TCOM provides a cost-effective pathway to a medical degree while maintaining a strong reputation for osteopathic education. The school emphasizes primary care, community health, and serving diverse patient populations throughout Texas.
William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine emphasizes community-focused medical education and training through its clinical experiences. The school provides students with early clinical exposure and opportunities to serve diverse patient populations in Mississippi and beyond. Its focus on primary care, including family medicine, and addressing healthcare disparities makes it a strong option for students interested in community-based practice.
A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine builds on the legacy of A.T. Still, the founder of osteopathic medicine, and remains one of the country’s most mission-driven DO schools. The school is known for an innovative curriculum that combines classroom learning with clinical training through a community health center model. Students spend their first year on campus before completing their clinical education at community health center sites across the country.
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine is one of the largest osteopathic medical schools in the country, with campuses in Pennsylvania, Florida, and New York. The school is known for its affordable tuition compared with many private DO programs and offers multiple learning pathways, including independent study options. LECOM also emphasizes primary care education through programs such as its Primary Care Scholars pathway.
Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine is part of the Touro University system, which operates multiple osteopathic medical schools across the country. Students benefit from small class sizes, interprofessional education, and opportunities to complete clinical rotations through an extensive network of affiliated hospitals and healthcare systems. Touro's mission-driven curriculum prepares graduates for careers in both primary care and a wide range of specialties.
Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine is known for its strong commitment to rural medicine. Students benefit from early clinical experiences and a community-based education model with rotations across the state. OSU-COM also offers dedicated tracks in rural and tribal medicine, giving students opportunities to train in communities with significant healthcare needs.
Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of Pikeville is nationally recognized for its mission to serve medically underserved communities, particularly throughout Appalachia. The school emphasizes primary care and patient-centered care with close faculty mentorship. Located near a regional medical center in eastern Kentucky, KYCOM provides students with hands-on clinical training and modern simulation facilities.
Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific emphasizes a patient-centered approach to medical education, integrating biomedical sciences with ethics, communication, and cultural awareness. The school prepares students to become compassionate physicians who understand the diverse needs of the communities they serve. With campuses in California and Oregon, the college provides clinical training opportunities across a wide network of healthcare settings.
Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine is one of the oldest osteopathic medical schools in the United States. The school is known for its integrated curriculum, team-based learning environment, and opportunities for research and global health programs. The college’s strong clinical partnerships provide students with hands-on training across Iowa and beyond.
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine is known for its focus on primary care and improving healthcare access in underserved communities. The school offers a community-based education model, with students completing clinical training through a network of affiliated hospitals and healthcare partners across Ohio. The school also offers a DO/PhD pathway for students interested in combining clinical practice with biomedical research.
Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine is one of the oldest osteopathic medical schools in the U.S. and the only osteopathic medical school in New Jersey. The school emphasizes primary care, community health, and interprofessional education, with a strong focus on serving diverse patient populations in the region. Students benefit from clinical training partnerships with Virtua Health and other healthcare systems, gaining hands-on experience across a range of specialties.
The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) is recognized for its strong commitment to training physicians who serve rural and medically underserved communities. With campuses across the Southeast, VCOM emphasizes community-based clinical education and primary care while consistently producing strong residency Match results. Its mission-driven approach makes it an excellent choice for students interested in service-focused medicine.
Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine offers its DO program at two Florida campuses, giving students flexibility in where they complete their education. The school offers early clinical experiences, simulation-based learning, and interprofessional education while preparing graduates for careers in primary care specialties. Students also benefit from dual-degree programs and a large health sciences university.
Applying to DO schools is similar to applying to MD programs, but most colleges of osteopathic medicine use a different centralized application service.
Instead of the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), DO applicants submit primary applications through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS), administered by AACOM. The exception is Texas DO schools, which participate in the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS).
Like AMCAS, AACOMAS requires transcripts, MCAT scores, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and a personal statement. After reviewing your primary application, schools may invite you to complete secondary applications before offering interviews.
Understanding each school's mission and tailoring your application accordingly can help you stand out in a competitive applicant pool.
Both Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) graduates become fully licensed physicians who can diagnose illnesses, prescribe medications, perform procedures, and practice in every medical specialty. The biggest difference lies in their educational philosophy.
MD programs traditionally emphasize diagnosing and treating disease through medications and procedures. DO programs include the same foundational medical training while also emphasizing holistic care, preventive medicine, and osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), which includes osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). OMT is a hands-on approach used to diagnose, treat, and help prevent certain conditions of the musculoskeletal system.
Acceptance rates vary widely by school, but DO programs are generally less selective than MD programs on average. That said, both MD and DO programs are academically rigorous and require extensive coursework, clinical training, and residency preparation.
If you're deciding which pathway is right for you, explore our in-depth guide comparing MD vs. DO to learn more about admissions, long-term career opportunities, and more.
Choosing between a DO and MD program depends on your career goals and the type of medical education you're seeking. A DO program may be a good fit if you:
It's also important to evaluate each school's mission, curriculum, clinical training opportunities, and residency programs rather than focusing solely on the degree. Ultimately, both DO and MD graduates become fully licensed physicians, and the best choice is the program that aligns with your goals, strengths, and preferred approach to patient care.
Read Next: The Easiest 30 U.S. Med Schools to Get Into
Both DO and MD graduates participate in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and compete for the same residency positions. While MD graduates have historically matched at slightly higher rates overall, residency outcomes for DO students have improved significantly following the transition to a single accreditation system.
One remaining difference is the licensing exam process. DO students take the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA), while MD students take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Although COMLEX-USA is accepted for residency applications, some DO students also choose to take the USMLE to strengthen their applications for competitive specialties or programs more familiar with USMLE scoring.
Graduates from both pathways match into a wide range of specialties, including internal medicine, psychiatry, emergency medicine, orthopedic surgery, pediatrics, and dermatology. Applicants should compare residency match outcomes, research opportunities, and clinical training when evaluating the best DO schools for competitive specialties.
Strong board scores, clinical performance, research, and extracurricular experiences can all improve residency competitiveness, regardless of whether you attend an MD or DO program.
Applying to osteopathic medical schools is a competitive process, and a well-crafted application can help you stand out. Working with an experienced admissions advisor can give you personalized feedback at every stage of the application process.
Build your application alongside a doctor with admissions experience, and join the 95% of clients who get into medical school.