10 DO Schools with the Easiest Admission Requirements

You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for the DO schools with the easiest admission requirements!

If you wish to become a doctor, then you should be aware that there are two types of medical schools: allopathic and osteopathic.

We will, in this article, be discussing the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, or D.O., degrees that are awarded to graduates of osteopathic schools.

What is Osteopathic Medicine?

Osteopathic Medicine is a unique branch of medicine that focuses on the interconnectedness of the body’s systems and the patient’s well-being. Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) are fully licensed physicians who have completed postdoctoral residency training in any medical specialty.

They receive the same medical education as other doctors, but they also receive instruction in osteopathic principles and practice, as well as 200+ hours of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM).

Osteopathic Medicine is one of the fastest-growing healthcare professions in the United States, with one out of every four medical students enrolled in an osteopathic medical school.

DOs apply a unique patient-centered approach to the full spectrum of care, practicing in all medical specialties, including primary care, pediatrics, OBGYN, emergency medicine, psychiatry, and surgery.

DO School Admission Requirements 

Admission to DO may not be difficult, but it is competitive.

To be admitted to a DO program, you must have the following qualities:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills are required.
• Have a track record of volunteering in the community.
• Possess clinical experience.
• Have taken part in several extracurricular activities.
• Come from diverse backgrounds.
• Are enthusiastic about pursuing a career in osteopathic medicine.
• Have a good knowledge of osteopathic medicine.
• Have shadowed an osteopathic physician.

List of 10 DO Schools with the Easiest Admission Requirements

Below is a list of the easiest DO schools to get into: 

• Liberty University – College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM)
• West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
• Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Campbell University – Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine
• Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
• A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
• Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences – College of Osteopathic Medicine.

10 DO Schools with the Easiest Admission Requirements

1. Liberty University – College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Founded: 2014
• Location: Lynchburg, Virginia

Liberty University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) is a Christian institution that offers a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree program.

LUCOM is committed to advancing the science and practice of osteopathic medicine while serving the needs of its student doctors, faculty, and patients. The college provides state-of-the-art facilities and diverse research opportunities to its students.

LUCOM’s experienced faculty members are deeply rooted in their Christian faith and provide a supportive learning environment for students.

The DO degree program at LUCOM has a 98.7% match ratio for post-graduate residency training, which means that students can confidently pursue their DO degree knowing that they will be well-prepared for their future careers.

2. West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

• Founded: 1974
• Located: Lewisburg, West Virginia

West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) is a public medical school located in Fairmont, West Virginia.

The school’s medical education program aims to develop compassionate and caring physicians who are dedicated to providing community-based services in the healthcare system.

WVSOM’s DO program is known for its rigorous curriculum that produces well-trained doctors who are committed to being the best physicians both in the classroom and on the operating table.

WVSOM’s mission is to educate students from diverse backgrounds as lifelong learners in osteopathic medicine and complementary health programs.

The school also aims to advance scientific knowledge through academic, clinical, and basic science research, and promote patient-centered, evidence-based medicine.

3. Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Founded: 2010
• Location: Dothan, Alabama

The Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM) is the first osteopathic medical school in Alabama. ACOM’s curriculum is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of medical concepts and practices.

The pre-clinical years of the program utilize a hybrid curriculum model that combines discipline and system-based clinical presentation approaches.

The curriculum presents core concept knowledge in the traditional discipline manner followed by student-centered teaching and learning by way of patient-centered, clinical presentation/system-based integrated courses.

ACOM is licensed by the Alabama Department of Public Education and fully accredited through the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) of the AOA, which is the only accrediting agency for predoctoral osteopathic medical education.

4. Campbell University – Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine

• Founded: 2011
• Location: Lillington, North Carolina

Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine is the only osteopathic medical school in North Carolina and is known for providing students with a seamless transition from learning to delivering the highest quality patient care in the communities they serve.

The school emphasizes intellectual achievement, compassion, and mind-body-spirit-centered patient care. Osteopathic medicine integrates the patient’s needs, current medical practice, and the interconnectedness of the body’s ability to heal itself.

Osteopathic physicians have a long history of providing primary care specialties such as family medicine, general internal medicine, pediatrics and obstetrics, and gynecology.

The school offers a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree program, which is a four-year program that prepares students to become osteopathic physicians. The program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in basic and clinical sciences, as well as hands-on experience in clinical settings.

The school also offers a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) program, which is a one-year program that provides students with a strong foundation in biomedical sciences.

5. Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Founded: 2007
• Location: Harrogate, Tennessee

Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) was founded on August 1, 2007, on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee.

LMU-DCOM is one of the most prominent buildings on campus, with the beautiful Cumberland Gap mountains serving as a picturesque backdrop. LMU-DCOM currently offers programs in two locations: Harrogate, Tennessee, and Knoxville, Tennessee.

The college is committed to providing quality educational programs through experienced faculty who use innovative teaching methods and state-of-the-art technology.

LMU-DCOM is fully committed to meeting the healthcare needs of the community and beyond with excellence in teaching, patient care, and services.

6. University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Founded: 1997
• Location: Pikeville, Kentucky, United States

The University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine (KYCOM) is a medical school located in Pikeville, Kentucky, United States. KYCOM is ranked second among all D.O. and M.D.-granting medical schools in the United States for graduates entering primary care residencies.

KYCOM’s mission is to train physicians to serve underserved and rural populations with a focus on primary care. KYCOM is known for its student-centered approach and its faculty and staff are dedicated to teaching patient-centered care while utilizing cutting-edge technology.

KYCOM graduates are well-prepared to enter high-quality and rigorous graduate medical education residencies, thanks to its location in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains near a growing regional hospital.

7. A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona

• Founded: 2007
• Location: Mesa, Arizona, United States

A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) is a private medical school located in Mesa, Arizona. It was established in 2007 as the Arizona campus of A.T. Still University, which was founded in 1892 by Andrew Taylor Still in Kirksville, Missouri.

ATSU-SOMA is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). The University is dedicated to integrating the founding principles of osteopathic medicine with the most recent scientific advances.

ATSU-SOMA is well-known for its leadership in multidisciplinary healthcare education and is consistently recognized as the graduate health sciences university with the best curriculum and a community outreach mission to serve the underserved.

8. Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Founded: 2004
• Location: Henderson, Nevada

Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine is a medical school located in Henderson, Nevada, United States.

The college offers a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program that trains students to become exceptional osteopathic physicians who are committed to primary care and a holistic approach to patient care.

The program emphasizes practical, hands-on experiences with patient actors that are directly linked to didactic studies, starting from the first year of study.

The college’s values surrounding social justice, intellectual pursuit, and service to humanity are steadfast and are visible in the actions of its students, faculty, staff, and graduates.

9. Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Founded: 2002
• Location: Virginia Tech (main campus), Blacksburg, Virginia

The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) is a private medical school with a mission to prepare globally-minded, community-focused physicians to meet the needs of rural and medically underserved populations, as well as to promote research to improve human health.

The college was founded in 2001 and offers the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree and osteopathic manipulative medicine training.

VCOM has four campuses located in Blacksburg, Virginia (VCOM-Virginia), Spartanburg, South Carolina, Auburn, Alabama, and Monroe, Louisiana.

According to the U.S. News & World Report, VCOM is ranked #118-130 in Best Medical Schools: Research and #80 in Best Medical Schools: Primary Care (tie).

VCOM is also recognized for its affordability, ranking #5 in the list of most affordable private medical schools in the United States.

10. Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences – College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Founded: 2008
• Location: Yakima, Washington

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences – College of Osteopathic Medicine (PNWU-COM) is a private medical school located in Yakima, Washington.

It was founded in 2005 and is the first new medical school to open in the Pacific Northwest in sixty years. PNWU-COM offers a four-year accredited osteopathic medical education program that emphasizes service among rural and medically underserved communities throughout the Northwest.

PNWU-COM has a distinguished faculty, a talented and committed staff, and an administration that focuses on high-tech, healing-touch medical education, as well as osteopathic principles and practice, to train the next generation of physicians.

The college is committed to training physicians who are equipped to serve the rural and medically underserved communities of the Pacific Northwest.

FAQs on the Best DO Schools with the Easiest Admission Requirements

What are osteopathic medical schools (DO schools?

Osteopathic medical schools, or DO schools, are institutions that grant the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. DOs are licensed physicians with a focus on a whole-person approach to medicine, emphasizing preventive care and the body's natural ability to heal.

What are some common admission requirements for these DO schools?

Common admission requirements may include a bachelor's degree, completion of specific prerequisite courses, a competitive GPA (which may be slightly lower than other schools), and MCAT scores within a specified range.

Can international students apply to these DO schools?

Yes, many DO schools consider international applicants. However, it's essential to check each school's specific policy on international admissions and whether they require additional documentation.

Are there scholarships available at these DO schools?

Many DO schools offer scholarships and financial aid. Prospective students should research and inquire about scholarship opportunities, eligibility criteria, and application processes at each school.

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Conclusion

While there is still some skepticism about DO programs, the reputation and presence of DO programs in the medical field are growing rapidly, particularly in the United States.

To enhance your chances, focus on excelling in prerequisite courses, obtaining strong letters of recommendation, gaining relevant healthcare experience, and preparing thoroughly for the MCAT.

Additionally, tailor your application to highlight qualities that align with the mission and values of each school.

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