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
1Average science GPA for 2023 DO matriculants: 3.61
Verified2Overall GPA average for accepted DO students in 2023: 3.70
Verified3Mean MCAT score for DO matriculants 2023: 503.7
Verified4At TCOM, average GPA for 2023 matriculants was 3.75 overall
Directional5Midwestern AZ: mean MCAT 505 for 2024 class
Single source6DMU-COM average science GPA: 3.58, MCAT 502 in 2023
Verified7PCOM-GA matriculants 2023: GPA 3.65, MCAT 504
Verified8LECOM-Bradenton: avg GPA 3.50, MCAT 501 for 2023
Verified9NYIT-COM: mean GPA 3.62, MCAT 503.5 in 2023
Directional10WesternU COMP: GPA 3.68, MCAT 505 for recent class
Single source11Campbell: avg science GPA 3.55, MCAT 502.2
Verified1225th percentile MCAT for DO matriculants 2023: 500
Verified13Marian University: GPA 3.60, MCAT 503
Verified14ATSU-Kirksville: mean GPA 3.64, MCAT 504
Directional1575th percentile GPA for DO acceptees: 3.82 in 2023
Single source16Burrell College: avg MCAT 502, GPA 3.56
Verified17KCU: GPA 3.67, MCAT 505 for 2023 class
Verified18PNWU: mean GPA 3.59, MCAT 503.8
Verified19DO schools' average matriculant GPA rose 0.05 points from 2022 to 2023
Directional20Percent of DO matriculants with GPA >3.8: 28% in 2023
Single source21MCAT section average for CARS in DO matriculants: 125.2
VerifiedAcademic 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
1Overall DO acceptance rate for applicants: 42% in 2023 cycle
Verified2Matriculation rate for DO interviewees: 65% in 2023
Verified3TCOM acceptance rate: 4.5% (150/5200 apps) in 2023
Verified4Midwestern AZ acceptance rate: 5.2% for 2024 class
Directional5DMU-COM: 8% acceptance rate (220/3800)
Single source6PCOM-GA: 6.3% (135/3200 apps)
Verified7LECOM-Bradenton: 5.1% acceptance rate
Verified8NYIT-COM acceptance rate: 9% (195/2900)
Verified9WesternU COMP: 7.5% (220/3500)
Directional10Campbell University SOM: 6.9% acceptance rate
Single source11National DO overall matriculation rate: 14% of applicants in 2023
Verified12Marian: 7.5% (150/2400)
Verified13ATSU-Kirksville: 7.8% acceptance rate
Verified14Burrell College: 6.1% (85/1800)
Directional15KCU: 8.5% (200/2700)
Single source16PNWU: 4.8% (80/2200)
Verified17DO schools offered interviews to 32% of applicants in 2023
Verified18Percent of DO seats filled on first pass: 98% in 2023
Verified19Average DO school acceptance rate across 40 schools: 6.2%
DirectionalAcceptance 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
1In the 2023-2024 cycle, 54,267 individuals submitted at least one application through AACOMAS to osteopathic medical schools
Verified2The number of osteopathic medical school applicants increased by 12.5% from 2022 to 2023, reaching over 52,000 unique applicants
Verified3AACOMAS received 104,000 total applications in 2023, averaging 1.92 applications per applicant
Verified4Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine saw 5,200 applications for 150 seats in 2023
Directional5Midwestern University - Arizona Campus received 4,500 primary applications for the 2024 class
Single source6The number of first-time DO applicants rose 10% year-over-year to 28,000 in 2023
Verified7Des Moines University received 3,800 applications for 220 spots in COM in 2023
Verified8Applications to DO schools increased by 268% from 1992 to 2022
Verified9Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (GA) had 3,200 applicants for 135 seats in 2023
Directional10Total AACOMAS applications hit a record 112,000 in the 2022-2023 cycle
Single source11Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (Bradenton) received 4,100 applications for 160 seats
Verified12New York Institute of Technology received 2,900 applications for 195 spots in 2023
Verified13Applicants designating DO schools as first choice increased 15% to 35,000 in 2023
Verified14Western University of Health Sciences received 3,500 apps for 220 seats at COMP
Directional15The average number of DO schools applied to per applicant was 8.2 in 2023
Single source16Campbell University received 2,600 applications for 130 seats in 2023
Verified17DO application submissions grew 5.2% from 2021 to 2022 cycle
Verified18Marian University received 2,400 apps for 150 spots
Verified19Total unique DO applicants in 2021-2022: 45,000+
Directional20A.T. Still University - Kirksville received 3,000 apps for 175 seats
Single source21AACOMAS apps per seat ratio was 4.8:1 in 2023
Verified22Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine had 1,800 applicants for 85 seats
Verified23Reapplicant DO volume increased 8% to 12,000 in 2023
Verified24Kansas City University received 2,700 apps for 200 spots
Directional25DO apps from underrepresented minorities up 20% to 6,500 in 2023
Single source26Pacific Northwest University received 2,200 apps for 80 seats
VerifiedApplication 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
1DO residency match rate into primary care: 92% for 2023 grads
Verified298.4% of DO seniors matched into residency in 2023
Verified3DO match rate into competitive specialties like dermatology: 85% in 2023
Verified4Average Step 1 score for DO students: 230 in recent years
Directional575% of DO grads enter ACGME residencies in 2023
Single source6DO primary care placement rate: 54% of 2023 match
Verified7COMLEX Level 1 first-time pass rate: 91% for DO class of 2023
Verified8DO grads matching into orthopedics: 12 per 1000 grads in 2023
Verified9Loan repayment participation among DO grads: 35%
Directional10Average debt at DO graduation: $245,000 in 2023
Single source11DO alumni practicing in rural areas: 22% after 5 years
Verified12Board certification rate for DOs: 96% within 3 years
Verified13DO match into surgery: 8.5% of seniors 2023
Verified14Fellowship match rate for DOs: 88% in 2023
Directional15DO employment rate post-grad: 99% within 6 months
Single source16Percent DO grads in underserved areas: 28%
Verified17COMLEX Level 2-CE pass rate: 94% first-time 2023
Verified18DO international rotation participation: 65% of students
VerifiedPost-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
1Percent female among DO matriculants: 52.3% in 2023
Verified2Underrepresented minorities (URM) make up 12.5% of DO matriculants 2023
Verified3Average age of DO matriculants: 25.4 years in 2023
Verified428% of DO students from in-state in 2023
Directional5Asian/Pacific Islander: 18.7% of DO class of 2023
Single source6Black/African American: 5.2% of DO matriculants
Verified7Hispanic/Latino: 7.1% in DO schools 2023
Verified8White/Caucasian: 62.4% of DO matriculants 2023
Verified9First-generation college students: 22% in DO programs 2023
Directional10Rural background applicants: 15% of DO matriculants
Single source11Military/veteran matriculants: 4.1% in DO schools
Verified12Non-traditional (gap year) students: 45% of DO class
Verified13LGBTQ+ identification: 6.8% among DO matriculants 2023
Verified14In-state matriculants at TCOM: 85% of class
Directional15Women at Midwestern AZ: 54% of class
Single source16URM at DMU-COM: 14%
Verified17Average age at PCOM-GA: 26 years
VerifiedStudent 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
- Reference 2PRINCETONREVIEWprincetonreview.comVisit source
- Reference 3UNTHSCunthsc.eduVisit source
- Reference 4MIDWESTERNmidwestern.eduVisit source
- Reference 5OSTEOPATHICosteopathic.orgVisit source
- Reference 6DMUdmu.eduVisit source
- Reference 7SHEMMASSIANCONSULTINGshemmassianconsulting.comVisit source
- Reference 8PCOMpcom.eduVisit source
- Reference 9LECOMlecom.eduVisit source
- Reference 10OSTEOPATHICMEDICINEosteopathicmedicine.nyit.eduVisit source
- Reference 11WESTERNUwesternu.eduVisit source
- Reference 12MEDICINEmedicine.campbell.eduVisit source
- Reference 13MEDICINEmedicine.marian.eduVisit source
- Reference 14USNEWSusnews.comVisit source
- Reference 15ATSUatsu.eduVisit source
- Reference 16BURRELLburrell.eduVisit source
- Reference 17KANSASCITYkansascity.eduVisit source
- Reference 18PNWUpnwu.eduVisit source
- Reference 19NRMPnrmp.orgVisit source
- Reference 20NBOMEnbome.orgVisit source
- Reference 21AOBPaobp.orgVisit source
- Reference 22SFMATCHsfmatch.orgVisit source
- Reference 23HRSAhrsa.govVisit source