While a record-breaking 54,267 aspiring doctors set their sights on osteopathic medicine last year, securing one of the coveted seats is now a monumental challenge defined by daunting acceptance rates as low as 4.5% and a fiercely competitive average matriculant profile of a 3.70 GPA and a 503.7 MCAT.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2023-2024 cycle, 54,267 individuals submitted at least one application through AACOMAS to osteopathic medical schools
- The number of osteopathic medical school applicants increased by 12.5% from 2022 to 2023, reaching over 52,000 unique applicants
- AACOMAS received 104,000 total applications in 2023, averaging 1.92 applications per applicant
- Average science GPA for 2023 DO matriculants: 3.61
- Overall GPA average for accepted DO students in 2023: 3.70
- Mean MCAT score for DO matriculants 2023: 503.7
- Overall DO acceptance rate for applicants: 42% in 2023 cycle
- Matriculation rate for DO interviewees: 65% in 2023
- TCOM acceptance rate: 4.5% (150/5200 apps) in 2023
- Percent female among DO matriculants: 52.3% in 2023
- Underrepresented minorities (URM) make up 12.5% of DO matriculants 2023
- Average age of DO matriculants: 25.4 years in 2023
- DO residency match rate into primary care: 92% for 2023 grads
- 98.4% of DO seniors matched into residency in 2023
- DO match rate into competitive specialties like dermatology: 85% in 2023
Osteopathic medical school applications have surged, making admissions more competitive than ever.
Academic Metrics
- Average science GPA for 2023 DO matriculants: 3.61
- Overall GPA average for accepted DO students in 2023: 3.70
- Mean MCAT score for DO matriculants 2023: 503.7
- At TCOM, average GPA for 2023 matriculants was 3.75 overall
- Midwestern AZ: mean MCAT 505 for 2024 class
- DMU-COM average science GPA: 3.58, MCAT 502 in 2023
- PCOM-GA matriculants 2023: GPA 3.65, MCAT 504
- LECOM-Bradenton: avg GPA 3.50, MCAT 501 for 2023
- NYIT-COM: mean GPA 3.62, MCAT 503.5 in 2023
- WesternU COMP: GPA 3.68, MCAT 505 for recent class
- Campbell: avg science GPA 3.55, MCAT 502.2
- 25th percentile MCAT for DO matriculants 2023: 500
- Marian University: GPA 3.60, MCAT 503
- ATSU-Kirksville: mean GPA 3.64, MCAT 504
- 75th percentile GPA for DO acceptees: 3.82 in 2023
- Burrell College: avg MCAT 502, GPA 3.56
- KCU: GPA 3.67, MCAT 505 for 2023 class
- PNWU: mean GPA 3.59, MCAT 503.8
- DO schools' average matriculant GPA rose 0.05 points from 2022 to 2023
- Percent of DO matriculants with GPA >3.8: 28% in 2023
- MCAT section average for CARS in DO matriculants: 125.2
Academic Metrics Interpretation
While the competition is fierce and the numbers keep climbing, the path to a DO seat is less about being a perfect 4.0/528 unicorn and more about being a well-rounded, resilient human who can clear the very real bar of roughly a 3.7 GPA and a 504 MCAT.
Acceptance Rates
- Overall DO acceptance rate for applicants: 42% in 2023 cycle
- Matriculation rate for DO interviewees: 65% in 2023
- TCOM acceptance rate: 4.5% (150/5200 apps) in 2023
- Midwestern AZ acceptance rate: 5.2% for 2024 class
- DMU-COM: 8% acceptance rate (220/3800)
- PCOM-GA: 6.3% (135/3200 apps)
- LECOM-Bradenton: 5.1% acceptance rate
- NYIT-COM acceptance rate: 9% (195/2900)
- WesternU COMP: 7.5% (220/3500)
- Campbell University SOM: 6.9% acceptance rate
- National DO overall matriculation rate: 14% of applicants in 2023
- Marian: 7.5% (150/2400)
- ATSU-Kirksville: 7.8% acceptance rate
- Burrell College: 6.1% (85/1800)
- KCU: 8.5% (200/2700)
- PNWU: 4.8% (80/2200)
- DO schools offered interviews to 32% of applicants in 2023
- Percent of DO seats filled on first pass: 98% in 2023
- Average DO school acceptance rate across 40 schools: 6.2%
Acceptance Rates Interpretation
While a 42% overall acceptance rate for DO applicants might seem like a coin toss at first glance, the reality is that gaining entry to any individual school is a fiercely competitive sprint where the average chance of acceptance is a sobering 6.2%, proving that while there are many doors to osteopathic medicine, each one has a very small keyhole.
Application Volume
- In the 2023-2024 cycle, 54,267 individuals submitted at least one application through AACOMAS to osteopathic medical schools
- The number of osteopathic medical school applicants increased by 12.5% from 2022 to 2023, reaching over 52,000 unique applicants
- AACOMAS received 104,000 total applications in 2023, averaging 1.92 applications per applicant
- Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine saw 5,200 applications for 150 seats in 2023
- Midwestern University - Arizona Campus received 4,500 primary applications for the 2024 class
- The number of first-time DO applicants rose 10% year-over-year to 28,000 in 2023
- Des Moines University received 3,800 applications for 220 spots in COM in 2023
- Applications to DO schools increased by 268% from 1992 to 2022
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (GA) had 3,200 applicants for 135 seats in 2023
- Total AACOMAS applications hit a record 112,000 in the 2022-2023 cycle
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (Bradenton) received 4,100 applications for 160 seats
- New York Institute of Technology received 2,900 applications for 195 spots in 2023
- Applicants designating DO schools as first choice increased 15% to 35,000 in 2023
- Western University of Health Sciences received 3,500 apps for 220 seats at COMP
- The average number of DO schools applied to per applicant was 8.2 in 2023
- Campbell University received 2,600 applications for 130 seats in 2023
- DO application submissions grew 5.2% from 2021 to 2022 cycle
- Marian University received 2,400 apps for 150 spots
- Total unique DO applicants in 2021-2022: 45,000+
- A.T. Still University - Kirksville received 3,000 apps for 175 seats
- AACOMAS apps per seat ratio was 4.8:1 in 2023
- Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine had 1,800 applicants for 85 seats
- Reapplicant DO volume increased 8% to 12,000 in 2023
- Kansas City University received 2,700 apps for 200 spots
- DO apps from underrepresented minorities up 20% to 6,500 in 2023
- Pacific Northwest University received 2,200 apps for 80 seats
Application Volume Interpretation
The data paints a picture of a growing army of hopefuls, each wielding an average of eight applications like lottery tickets, all vying for a seat in a medical school classroom that, for many institutions, is statistically more exclusive than a speakeasy.
Post-Admission Outcomes
- DO residency match rate into primary care: 92% for 2023 grads
- 98.4% of DO seniors matched into residency in 2023
- DO match rate into competitive specialties like dermatology: 85% in 2023
- Average Step 1 score for DO students: 230 in recent years
- 75% of DO grads enter ACGME residencies in 2023
- DO primary care placement rate: 54% of 2023 match
- COMLEX Level 1 first-time pass rate: 91% for DO class of 2023
- DO grads matching into orthopedics: 12 per 1000 grads in 2023
- Loan repayment participation among DO grads: 35%
- Average debt at DO graduation: $245,000 in 2023
- DO alumni practicing in rural areas: 22% after 5 years
- Board certification rate for DOs: 96% within 3 years
- DO match into surgery: 8.5% of seniors 2023
- Fellowship match rate for DOs: 88% in 2023
- DO employment rate post-grad: 99% within 6 months
- Percent DO grads in underserved areas: 28%
- COMLEX Level 2-CE pass rate: 94% first-time 2023
- DO international rotation participation: 65% of students
Post-Admission Outcomes Interpretation
DO students are clearly putting their money where the country's need is, graduating with quarter-million-dollar debts to overwhelmingly become the board-certified, employed, and often rural or primary care physicians we desperately require, all while quietly matching into competitive specialties at rates that would make any medical school proud.
Student Demographics
- Percent female among DO matriculants: 52.3% in 2023
- Underrepresented minorities (URM) make up 12.5% of DO matriculants 2023
- Average age of DO matriculants: 25.4 years in 2023
- 28% of DO students from in-state in 2023
- Asian/Pacific Islander: 18.7% of DO class of 2023
- Black/African American: 5.2% of DO matriculants
- Hispanic/Latino: 7.1% in DO schools 2023
- White/Caucasian: 62.4% of DO matriculants 2023
- First-generation college students: 22% in DO programs 2023
- Rural background applicants: 15% of DO matriculants
- Military/veteran matriculants: 4.1% in DO schools
- Non-traditional (gap year) students: 45% of DO class
- LGBTQ+ identification: 6.8% among DO matriculants 2023
- In-state matriculants at TCOM: 85% of class
- Women at Midwestern AZ: 54% of class
- URM at DMU-COM: 14%
- Average age at PCOM-GA: 26 years
Student Demographics Interpretation
While the typical DO student is statistically a 25-year-old white woman from in-state, the mosaic of modern osteopathic medicine is far richer, being nearly half non-traditional, increasingly gender-balanced, and steadily—if still imperfectly—woven with the vital threads of first-generation pioneers, rural advocates, veterans, and underrepresented minorities.
Sources & References
- Reference 1AACOMaacom.orgVisit source
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- Reference 3UNTHSCunthsc.eduVisit source
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- Reference 5OSTEOPATHICosteopathic.orgVisit source
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- Reference 7SHEMMASSIANCONSULTINGshemmassianconsulting.comVisit source
- Reference 8PCOMpcom.eduVisit source
- Reference 9LECOMlecom.eduVisit source
- Reference 10OSTEOPATHICMEDICINEosteopathicmedicine.nyit.eduVisit source
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- Reference 12MEDICINEmedicine.campbell.eduVisit source
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- Reference 17KANSASCITYkansascity.eduVisit source
- Reference 18PNWUpnwu.eduVisit source
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- Reference 20NBOMEnbome.orgVisit source
- Reference 21AOBPaobp.orgVisit source
- Reference 22SFMATCHsfmatch.orgVisit source
- Reference 23HRSAhrsa.govVisit source