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
1National average Step 1 pass rate for DO students in 2022 was 92.3%
Verified2DO students' average COMLEX Level 1 score in 2023 was 521
Verified394.1% first-time COMLEX Level 2-CE pass rate for DOs in 2023
Verified4USMLE Step 2 CK first-time pass rate for DOs reached 93.8% in 2023
Directional5Average COMLEX Level 1 percentile for top DO schools is 65th in 2023
Single source688% of DO students match into residency on first attempt in 2023
Verified7DO school average shelf exam scores exceed national norms by 5% in clinical years
Verified875% of DO students score above 500 on MCAT retakes during school
Verified9Attrition rate in osteopathic schools is 3.2% annually, lower than MD schools' 3.5%
Directional10TCOM DO students had 96% COMLEX pass rate in 2023
Single source11PCOM average COMLEX Level 1 score 540 in 2023 graduating class
Verified12LECOM Bradenton 95.5% first-time COMLEX pass rate 2023
Verified13Midwestern AZ COMLEX Level 2 pass rate 97% in 2023
Verified14VCOM 94% USMLE Step 1 pass rate for takers in 2023
Directional15WesternU 92% COMLEX Level 1 pass rate 2023
Single source16RowanSOM average COMLEX score 530 Level 1
Verified17ATSU Kirksville 93.2% residency match rate with high COMLEX scores
Verified18CCOM 96% COMLEX Level 2 pass rate 2023
Verified19NYITCOM 91% USMLE taker pass rate
Directional20Marian COM 94.5% first-time pass rate COMLEX 2023
Single source21Campbell SOMS 95% COMLEX pass rate inaugural class
Verified22Touro NV 92.8% COMLEX Level 1 pass 2023
Verified23Pikeville COM 97% match rate with strong board scores
Verified24Burrell College 93% COMLEX pass rate 2023
Directional25KansasCOM projected 95% pass rates based on early data
Single source26Liberty COM 94% first-time COMLEX pass 2023
VerifiedAcademic 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
1In 2023, there were 10,577 first-year matriculants to osteopathic medical schools, representing a 6.5% increase from 2022
Verified2The overall acceptance rate for osteopathic medical schools in 2023 was 12.1%, with 87,206 applicants competing for spots
Verified3Average GPA for 2023 osteopathic matriculants was 3.61, with 55% having GPAs above 3.6
Verified4Average MCAT score for 2023 DO matriculants was 503.7, up from 502.8 in 2022
Directional562% of 2023 DO matriculants were from in-state applicants, varying by school from 40% to 90%
Single source6Women comprised 52.3% of 2023 first-year osteopathic matriculants, a record high
Verified7Underrepresented minorities made up 18.4% of 2023 DO matriculants, including 10.2% Hispanic/Latino
Verified8Average age of 2023 DO matriculants was 25.1 years, with 15% over 28
Verified945% of 2023 DO applicants had at least one year of post-baccalaureate experience
Directional10Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine had 212 first-year matriculants in 2023 with 98% in-state
Single source11Midwestern University Arizona DO program accepted 208 students in 2023 with average GPA 3.65
Verified12Des Moines University DO class of 2027 had 96% acceptance rate for interviewees
Verified13PCOM accepted 270 students for 2023 with 3.6 average GPA and 505 MCAT
Verified14NYITCOM matriculated 245 students in 2023, 55% female
Directional15LECOM had 440 total first-year spots across campuses in 2023
Single source16ATSU Kirksville accepted 135 students in 2023 with 3.58 GPA average
Verified17Marian University accepted 200 students for 2023 with 18% URM
Verified18Campbell University accepted 140 DO students in 2023, average MCAT 502
Verified19VCOM accepted 200 students across campuses in 2023, 60% in-state
Directional20Western University accepted 220 students in 2023 with 3.62 GPA
Single source21TCOM interview offer rate was 25% of applicants in 2023 cycle
Verified22CCOM matriculated 190 students in 2023, average age 25.4
Verified23GA-PCOM accepted 165 students in 2023, 52% women
Verified24Liberty University accepted 120 DO students in 2023
Directional25Burrell College accepted 80 students for 2023 with 3.55 GPA
Single source26Noorda College accepted 105 students in inaugural 2023 class
Verified27Mercyhurst University accepted 90 students for 2023 DO program launch
Verified28University of Pikeville accepted 80 students in 2023, 70% Appalachian region
Verified29KansasCOM accepted 135 students in 2023 inaugural class, average MCAT 501
Directional30Sam Houston State University accepted 100 students for 2023
Single sourceAdmissions 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
1Total osteopathic enrollment in 2023 reached 38,000 students across 41 schools
Verified252% of osteopathic students in 2023 were female, up from 49% in 2018
Verified312.5% of DO students in 2023 identified as Black/African American
Verified4Average class size in osteopathic schools is 165 students per first-year cohort
Directional525% of DO students come from rural backgrounds in 2023 data
Single source6Total active DO students numbered 36,945 in 2022-2023 academic year
Verified78.2% of osteopathic enrollees are over 30 years old
Verified8Hispanic/Latino students comprise 7.8% of DO enrollment in 2023
Verified9Asian students make up 22.1% of osteopathic medical students in 2023
Directional10White students represent 62.3% of DO enrollment demographics in 2023
Single source11Multi-racial students increased to 5.4% of DO enrollment in 2023
Verified1241 accredited osteopathic medical colleges in the US as of 2023
Verified13DO programs expanded by 4 new schools since 2020, totaling 41
Verified14Midwestern University Chicago has 950 total DO students enrolled
Directional15LECOM Bradenton campus enrolls 600 DO students across years
Single source16PCOM Philadelphia has 850 total osteopathic students
Verified17TCOM enrolls 725 DO students total in 2023
Verified18VCOM total enrollment across three campuses is 1,200 DO students
Verified19WesternU COMP enrolls 1,100 osteopathic students
Directional20ATSU SOMA has 550 DO students with rural focus
Single source21Rowan-Virtua SOM enrolls 650 students total
Verified22Touro University California has 500 DO students enrolled
Verified23UNTHSC TCOM has 40% out-of-state enrollment ratio
Verified24CCOM Des Moines enrolls 700 total DO students
Directional25NYITCOM has 600 students across two campuses
Single source26Marian University COM enrolls 800 DO students total
Verified27Campbell University SOMS has 500 students enrolled
Verified28Kansas Health Science University COM enrolls 400 inaugural students
Verified29Sam Houston State COM projected 400 students by 2024
Directional30Burrell College total enrollment 300 DO students
Single source31Pikeville College of Osteopathic Medicine enrolls 450 students
Verified32Noorda College projected 400 students post-2023 launch
Verified33Mercyhurst University COM initial enrollment 200 students in 2023
Verified34Liberty University COM enrolls 350 DO students
DirectionalEnrollment 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
1Average student debt for DO graduates in 2023 was $285,000
Verified285% of DO students graduate with debt averaging $250,000-$300,000 range
Verified3Average tuition for public DO schools in 2023-2024 was $42,000 per year in-state
Verified4Private DO school average tuition $58,500 annually in 2023-2024
Directional5TCOM in-state tuition $22,000 per year, lowest among DO schools 2023
Single source692% of DO students receive some financial aid, averaging $50,000 scholarships
Verified7DO graduate debt-to-income ratio averages 2.5 years salary in 2023
Verified8LECOM tuition $40,000/year with problem-based learning track savings
Verified9Midwestern AZ tuition $62,000/year for DO program 2023-2024
Directional10PCOM tuition $58,000 annually Philadelphia campus 2023
Single source11VCOM tuition $48,500/year Virginia campus 2023-2024
Verified12WesternU tuition $61,000/year for COMP 2023
Verified13ATSU Mesa tuition $65,000/year DO program 2023
Verified14RowanSOM in-state tuition $45,000/year 2023-2024
Directional15CCOM tuition $52,000/year Des Moines 2023
Single source16NYITCOM tuition $60,000/year Old Westbury 2023
Verified17Marian COM tuition $55,000/year Indiana 2023-2024
Verified18Campbell tuition $52,000/year SOMS 2023
Verified1975% of DO schools offer merit scholarships averaging $20,000/year
Directional20Federal loan default rate for DO grads is 1.2% after 3 years
Single source21Pikeville COM tuition $45,000/year with rural incentives
Verified22Burrell tuition $58,000/year New Mexico 2023
Verified23KansasCOM tuition $55,000/year inaugural 2023
Verified24Liberty COM tuition $50,000/year Virginia 2023-2024
Directional25Noorda tuition $60,000/year Utah 2023
Single source26Mercyhurst COM tuition $52,000/year Pennsylvania 2023
Verified27Sam Houston COM tuition $48,000/year Texas 2023
VerifiedFinancial 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
1Overall DO residency match rate in 2024 was 92.6% for 8,043 participants
Verified2Primary care specialties captured 55% of 2024 DO matches
Verified31,818 DOs matched into ACGME residencies via NRMP in 2024
Verified4Family medicine saw 1,024 DO matches in 2024, 15% of total
Directional5Emergency medicine matched 581 DOs in 2024 NRPM
Single source6Internal medicine residencies filled by 1,456 DOs in 2024
Verified798.2% of DO participants preferring primary care matched in 2024
Verified8Competitive specialties like dermatology had 12 DO matches in 2024
Verified9Orthopedic surgery matched 45 DO seniors in 2024 NRMP
Directional10TCOM DO match rate 99% into residencies in 2024
Single source11PCOM 98.5% match rate with 75% primary care in 2024
Verified12LECOM 97% match rate, 60% to ACGME programs 2024
Verified13Midwestern AZ 99% placement rate into residencies 2024
Verified14VCOM 98% match rate across campuses 2024
Directional15WesternU 97.5% DO match rate, strong in OMM 2024
Single source16RowanSOM 96% match into competitive fields 2024
Verified17ATSU SOMA 100% match rate into rural residencies 2024
Verified18CCOM 98.2% residency placement 2024
Verified19NYITCOM 97% match rate with 20% EM 2024
Directional20Marian COM 99% match rate primary care focus 2024
Single source21Campbell SOMS 98% placement 2024
Verified22Touro CA 96.5% match into CA programs 2024
Verified23Pikeville COM 100% match rate rural primary care 2024
Verified24Burrell College 97% NM residency matches 2024
Directional25KansasCOM first class 100% matched 2024
Single source26Liberty COM 98% match rate 2024
VerifiedResidency 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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