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​Schools Debut in New Areas

During the 2014-15 academic year, the AOA Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation accredited 31 colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) offering instruction at 45 teaching locations in 30 states. The locations of these COMs, branch campuses and locations are shown with stars on the map below. COMs, branch campuses or additional locations that have opened within the last five years are denoted with white stars.

Source: AACOM's 2016 Osteopathic Medical College Information Book. All osteopathic medical student statistics are used with permission from AACOM.

Students Choose Osteopathic Medicine

In 2015, one in four U.S. medical students attended an osteopathic medical school. Both DO and MD schools offer similar, rigorous medical education, but approach the practice of medicine from distinct philosophies.

Since 2007, the average increase in osteopathic medical school enrollment has been +6.8% per year. The 2014-15 year continued this trend, with a 6.3% increase over 2012-13 enrollment.

​Total COM Enrollment, 1985-2015

Seeking Additional Diversity

The osteopathic medical profession shares the goal of creating a more diverse physician workforce. The American Osteopathic Association and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine signed on to briefs supporting diversity measures in medical school admissions, which faced a Supreme Court challenge in 2015.

Diversity issues are actively considered as the profession navigates decades of rapid growth. New osteopathic medical schools are being located in underserved communities, and actively recruit minority students, enhance diversity and positively influence social determinants of health.

​Ethnicity	Five year change (2010-11 to 2014-15)	​Five-Year Change (%)
​Overall enrollment	5,137	26%
​White, non-Hispanic​	2,568	19%
​Asian-American, non-Hispanic	1,318	36%
​Black/African American, non-Hispanic	137	24%
Hispanic/Latino​	398	60%
​Two or more races	​5	17%​
​Unknown	204​	​37%
​Nonresident alien	197​	​184%

 

Source: AACOM Annual Osteopathic Medical School Questionnaires, 2000-01 through 2014-15 academic years. All osteopathic medical student statistics are used with permission from AACOM.

Note: Enrollment among American Indian and Pacific Islanders has been decreasing over the past five years.​

Source: AOA Physician Masterfile, May 31, 2015.
AACOM Fall 2015 preliminary enrollment report​

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