While over 87,000 aspiring physicians competed for just over 10,500 coveted spots in 2023, gaining a clear understanding of the evolving landscape—from record-high female enrollment to strong residency match rates—is your first critical step toward navigating the increasingly competitive path to an osteopathic medical education.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, there were 10,577 first-year matriculants to osteopathic medical schools, representing a 6.5% increase from 2022
- The overall acceptance rate for osteopathic medical schools in 2023 was 12.1%, with 87,206 applicants competing for spots
- Average GPA for 2023 osteopathic matriculants was 3.61, with 55% having GPAs above 3.6
- Total osteopathic enrollment in 2023 reached 38,000 students across 41 schools
- 52% of osteopathic students in 2023 were female, up from 49% in 2018
- 12.5% of DO students in 2023 identified as Black/African American
- National average Step 1 pass rate for DO students in 2022 was 92.3%
- DO students' average COMLEX Level 1 score in 2023 was 521
- 94.1% first-time COMLEX Level 2-CE pass rate for DOs in 2023
- Overall DO residency match rate in 2024 was 92.6% for 8,043 participants
- Primary care specialties captured 55% of 2024 DO matches
- 1,818 DOs matched into ACGME residencies via NRMP in 2024
- Average student debt for DO graduates in 2023 was $285,000
- 85% of DO students graduate with debt averaging $250,000-$300,000 range
- Average tuition for public DO schools in 2023-2024 was $42,000 per year in-state
Osteopathic medical schools are increasingly competitive with rising acceptance standards and enrollment.
Academic Performance and Outcomes
- National average Step 1 pass rate for DO students in 2022 was 92.3%
- DO students' average COMLEX Level 1 score in 2023 was 521
- 94.1% first-time COMLEX Level 2-CE pass rate for DOs in 2023
- USMLE Step 2 CK first-time pass rate for DOs reached 93.8% in 2023
- Average COMLEX Level 1 percentile for top DO schools is 65th in 2023
- 88% of DO students match into residency on first attempt in 2023
- DO school average shelf exam scores exceed national norms by 5% in clinical years
- 75% of DO students score above 500 on MCAT retakes during school
- Attrition rate in osteopathic schools is 3.2% annually, lower than MD schools' 3.5%
- TCOM DO students had 96% COMLEX pass rate in 2023
- PCOM average COMLEX Level 1 score 540 in 2023 graduating class
- LECOM Bradenton 95.5% first-time COMLEX pass rate 2023
- Midwestern AZ COMLEX Level 2 pass rate 97% in 2023
- VCOM 94% USMLE Step 1 pass rate for takers in 2023
- WesternU 92% COMLEX Level 1 pass rate 2023
- RowanSOM average COMLEX score 530 Level 1
- ATSU Kirksville 93.2% residency match rate with high COMLEX scores
- CCOM 96% COMLEX Level 2 pass rate 2023
- NYITCOM 91% USMLE taker pass rate
- Marian COM 94.5% first-time pass rate COMLEX 2023
- Campbell SOMS 95% COMLEX pass rate inaugural class
- Touro NV 92.8% COMLEX Level 1 pass 2023
- Pikeville COM 97% match rate with strong board scores
- Burrell College 93% COMLEX pass rate 2023
- KansasCOM projected 95% pass rates based on early data
- Liberty COM 94% first-time COMLEX pass 2023
Academic Performance and Outcomes Interpretation
While the numbers clearly show that DO students are not just keeping pace but often outperforming expectations on the arduous path to becoming physicians, the real story is a systemic shift from proving legitimacy to quietly exceeding it.
Admissions Statistics
- In 2023, there were 10,577 first-year matriculants to osteopathic medical schools, representing a 6.5% increase from 2022
- The overall acceptance rate for osteopathic medical schools in 2023 was 12.1%, with 87,206 applicants competing for spots
- Average GPA for 2023 osteopathic matriculants was 3.61, with 55% having GPAs above 3.6
- Average MCAT score for 2023 DO matriculants was 503.7, up from 502.8 in 2022
- 62% of 2023 DO matriculants were from in-state applicants, varying by school from 40% to 90%
- Women comprised 52.3% of 2023 first-year osteopathic matriculants, a record high
- Underrepresented minorities made up 18.4% of 2023 DO matriculants, including 10.2% Hispanic/Latino
- Average age of 2023 DO matriculants was 25.1 years, with 15% over 28
- 45% of 2023 DO applicants had at least one year of post-baccalaureate experience
- Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine had 212 first-year matriculants in 2023 with 98% in-state
- Midwestern University Arizona DO program accepted 208 students in 2023 with average GPA 3.65
- Des Moines University DO class of 2027 had 96% acceptance rate for interviewees
- PCOM accepted 270 students for 2023 with 3.6 average GPA and 505 MCAT
- NYITCOM matriculated 245 students in 2023, 55% female
- LECOM had 440 total first-year spots across campuses in 2023
- ATSU Kirksville accepted 135 students in 2023 with 3.58 GPA average
- Marian University accepted 200 students for 2023 with 18% URM
- Campbell University accepted 140 DO students in 2023, average MCAT 502
- VCOM accepted 200 students across campuses in 2023, 60% in-state
- Western University accepted 220 students in 2023 with 3.62 GPA
- TCOM interview offer rate was 25% of applicants in 2023 cycle
- CCOM matriculated 190 students in 2023, average age 25.4
- GA-PCOM accepted 165 students in 2023, 52% women
- Liberty University accepted 120 DO students in 2023
- Burrell College accepted 80 students for 2023 with 3.55 GPA
- Noorda College accepted 105 students in inaugural 2023 class
- Mercyhurst University accepted 90 students for 2023 DO program launch
- University of Pikeville accepted 80 students in 2023, 70% Appalachian region
- KansasCOM accepted 135 students in 2023 inaugural class, average MCAT 501
- Sam Houston State University accepted 100 students for 2023
Admissions Statistics Interpretation
While the osteopathic path to medicine is becoming more popular and competitive, offering a crucial second chance to many determined applicants with slightly lower stats, it remains a distinctly regional enterprise with acceptance often favoring those who plant their stethoscopes close to home.
Enrollment and Demographics
- Total osteopathic enrollment in 2023 reached 38,000 students across 41 schools
- 52% of osteopathic students in 2023 were female, up from 49% in 2018
- 12.5% of DO students in 2023 identified as Black/African American
- Average class size in osteopathic schools is 165 students per first-year cohort
- 25% of DO students come from rural backgrounds in 2023 data
- Total active DO students numbered 36,945 in 2022-2023 academic year
- 8.2% of osteopathic enrollees are over 30 years old
- Hispanic/Latino students comprise 7.8% of DO enrollment in 2023
- Asian students make up 22.1% of osteopathic medical students in 2023
- White students represent 62.3% of DO enrollment demographics in 2023
- Multi-racial students increased to 5.4% of DO enrollment in 2023
- 41 accredited osteopathic medical colleges in the US as of 2023
- DO programs expanded by 4 new schools since 2020, totaling 41
- Midwestern University Chicago has 950 total DO students enrolled
- LECOM Bradenton campus enrolls 600 DO students across years
- PCOM Philadelphia has 850 total osteopathic students
- TCOM enrolls 725 DO students total in 2023
- VCOM total enrollment across three campuses is 1,200 DO students
- WesternU COMP enrolls 1,100 osteopathic students
- ATSU SOMA has 550 DO students with rural focus
- Rowan-Virtua SOM enrolls 650 students total
- Touro University California has 500 DO students enrolled
- UNTHSC TCOM has 40% out-of-state enrollment ratio
- CCOM Des Moines enrolls 700 total DO students
- NYITCOM has 600 students across two campuses
- Marian University COM enrolls 800 DO students total
- Campbell University SOMS has 500 students enrolled
- Kansas Health Science University COM enrolls 400 inaugural students
- Sam Houston State COM projected 400 students by 2024
- Burrell College total enrollment 300 DO students
- Pikeville College of Osteopathic Medicine enrolls 450 students
- Noorda College projected 400 students post-2023 launch
- Mercyhurst University COM initial enrollment 200 students in 2023
- Liberty University COM enrolls 350 DO students
Enrollment and Demographics Interpretation
The osteopathic field is finally diversifying its roots, cultivating not only more female physicians but also a promising harvest of practitioners from rural and varied backgrounds, all while carefully tending to its growth to ensure the medical garden doesn't become overcrowded.
Financial and Debt Information
- Average student debt for DO graduates in 2023 was $285,000
- 85% of DO students graduate with debt averaging $250,000-$300,000 range
- Average tuition for public DO schools in 2023-2024 was $42,000 per year in-state
- Private DO school average tuition $58,500 annually in 2023-2024
- TCOM in-state tuition $22,000 per year, lowest among DO schools 2023
- 92% of DO students receive some financial aid, averaging $50,000 scholarships
- DO graduate debt-to-income ratio averages 2.5 years salary in 2023
- LECOM tuition $40,000/year with problem-based learning track savings
- Midwestern AZ tuition $62,000/year for DO program 2023-2024
- PCOM tuition $58,000 annually Philadelphia campus 2023
- VCOM tuition $48,500/year Virginia campus 2023-2024
- WesternU tuition $61,000/year for COMP 2023
- ATSU Mesa tuition $65,000/year DO program 2023
- RowanSOM in-state tuition $45,000/year 2023-2024
- CCOM tuition $52,000/year Des Moines 2023
- NYITCOM tuition $60,000/year Old Westbury 2023
- Marian COM tuition $55,000/year Indiana 2023-2024
- Campbell tuition $52,000/year SOMS 2023
- 75% of DO schools offer merit scholarships averaging $20,000/year
- Federal loan default rate for DO grads is 1.2% after 3 years
- Pikeville COM tuition $45,000/year with rural incentives
- Burrell tuition $58,000/year New Mexico 2023
- KansasCOM tuition $55,000/year inaugural 2023
- Liberty COM tuition $50,000/year Virginia 2023-2024
- Noorda tuition $60,000/year Utah 2023
- Mercyhurst COM tuition $52,000/year Pennsylvania 2023
- Sam Houston COM tuition $48,000/year Texas 2023
Financial and Debt Information Interpretation
The path to becoming a DO clearly demands a financial anatomy lesson where, despite nearly everyone getting aid, the average graduate still owes a quarter-million dollars, proving that the healing arts come with a bill that takes years of salary to cure.
Residency Matching
- Overall DO residency match rate in 2024 was 92.6% for 8,043 participants
- Primary care specialties captured 55% of 2024 DO matches
- 1,818 DOs matched into ACGME residencies via NRMP in 2024
- Family medicine saw 1,024 DO matches in 2024, 15% of total
- Emergency medicine matched 581 DOs in 2024 NRPM
- Internal medicine residencies filled by 1,456 DOs in 2024
- 98.2% of DO participants preferring primary care matched in 2024
- Competitive specialties like dermatology had 12 DO matches in 2024
- Orthopedic surgery matched 45 DO seniors in 2024 NRMP
- TCOM DO match rate 99% into residencies in 2024
- PCOM 98.5% match rate with 75% primary care in 2024
- LECOM 97% match rate, 60% to ACGME programs 2024
- Midwestern AZ 99% placement rate into residencies 2024
- VCOM 98% match rate across campuses 2024
- WesternU 97.5% DO match rate, strong in OMM 2024
- RowanSOM 96% match into competitive fields 2024
- ATSU SOMA 100% match rate into rural residencies 2024
- CCOM 98.2% residency placement 2024
- NYITCOM 97% match rate with 20% EM 2024
- Marian COM 99% match rate primary care focus 2024
- Campbell SOMS 98% placement 2024
- Touro CA 96.5% match into CA programs 2024
- Pikeville COM 100% match rate rural primary care 2024
- Burrell College 97% NM residency matches 2024
- KansasCOM first class 100% matched 2024
- Liberty COM 98% match rate 2024
Residency Matching Interpretation
While celebrating a robust 92.6% overall match rate that proves DOs are securing their stethoscopes, the data clearly shows the profession remains the steadfast backbone of primary care, with over half of all graduates answering the call to family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics.
Sources & References
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