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The DO schools on U.S. News’ best medical schools list for 2024

The lists of the best medical schools for research and primary care each include 11 DO schools. Also, the lists of the medical schools producing the most graduates practicing in primary care, rural areas and underserved areas included many osteopathic medical schools.

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U.S. News and World Report recently released its 2024 lists of the best medical schools in the U.S. The lists of the best medical schools for research and primary care each included 10 DO schools. Also, the lists of the medical schools producing the most graduates practicing in primary care, rural areas and underserved areas included many osteopathic medical schools.

To create the lists of the best med schools for primary care and research, U.S. News surveyed 196 fully accredited medical schools and calculated scores based on their percentile performance among all rated schools. The primary care rankings discontinued the use of peer assessment and residency director assessments that previously equaled 25% of the ranking.

Rather than rank schools numerically as they did for previous best med schools lists, the best schools for primary care and research are placed in four tiers of performance. These changes came about after previous versions of the lists caused more than a dozen schools to withdraw from the rankings, according to Becker’s Hospital Review. Those schools said they were withdrawing because they felt the ranking measures—such as peer assessments and test scores—gave an unfair edge to well-resourced schools.

The osteopathic medical schools that received rankings on the various lists are noted below. You can see the full lists here.

Related

Best medical schools for primary care

Tier 1, University of North Texas Health Science Center/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 1, Western University of Health Sciences/College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific

Tier 2, Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine—CA

Tier 2, University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 2, William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 3, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 3, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 4, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 4, Ohio University-Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 4, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 4, Rowan University Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine

Best medical schools for research

Tier 4, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 4, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 4, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 4, Ohio University-Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 4, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 4, Rowan University Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 4, Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine—CA

Tier 4, University of North Texas Health Science Center/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 4, University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 4, Western University of Health Sciences/College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific

Tier 4, William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Medical schools with the most graduates in primary care

The top 10 schools with the most graduates practicing primary care are all DO schools, and 16 of the top 20 schools are DO schools.

#1 Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

#2 Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#3 Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine

#4 William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#5 Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine—CA

#6 A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona

#7 Western University of Health Sciences/College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific

#8 A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine

#9 (tie) Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

#9 (tie) University of North Texas Health Science Center/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

#11 Campbell University-Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine

#12 (tie) Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#12 (tie) University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

#14 Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#18 (tie) Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine

#20 West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

#21 Midwestern University/Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine

#24 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

#26 Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#32 Ohio University-Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

#38 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

#42 (tie) Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine

#46 (tie) Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

#46 (tie) University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine

#48 (tie) Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

#97 Rowan University Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine

#112 (tie) Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

Medical schools with the most graduates practicing in underserved areas

#1 Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#2 Campbell University-Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine

#6 Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine

#8 William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#11 Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine

#15 Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

#18 West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

#24 Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#28 A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine

#36 Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#43 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

#50 University of North Texas Health Science Center/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

#58 Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine

#68 Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

#70 University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

#71 Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

#84 Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

#85 Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#93 Ohio University-Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

#94 Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

#114 Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine—CA

#133 Western University of Health Sciences/College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific

#144 A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona

#148 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

#157 University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine

#159 Rowan University Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine

Medical schools with the most graduates practicing in rural areas

Six of the top 10 schools with the most graduates working in rural areas are DO schools.

#1 A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine

#2 William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#3 University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

#4 Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine

#8 Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#10 West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

#13 Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

#14 Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

#16 Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#19 Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine

#27 Campbell University-Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine

#29 Ohio University-Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

#36 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

#39 Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

#40 Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#43 A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona

#58 Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#68 (tie) Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#73 University of North Texas Health Science Center/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

#75 (tie) Western University of Health Sciences/College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific

#78 Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine—CA

#79 Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

#83 Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

#109 Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine

#125 Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine

#138 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

#161 (tie) University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine

Most diverse medical schools

#44 (tie) A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona

#44 (tie) Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine

#48 (tie) Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

#72 (tie) Nova Southeastern University Kiran C Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

#81 (tie) Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine

#89 (tie) Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine

#97 (tie) Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

#97 (tie) Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

#97 (tie) Ohio University-Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

#97 (tie) University of North Texas Health Science Center/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

#115 (tie) Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine

#122 (tie) Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

#122 (tie) West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

#122 (tie) William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#130 (tie) Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#130 (tie) Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#135 (tie) Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#142 (tie) Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

#142 (tie) Western University of Health Sciences/College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific

#147 (tie) Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#147 (tie) Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine-CA

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5 comments

  1. Russell Morrison

    I graduated from KCCOS in 1968 it is unbelievable how much the Osteopathic Profession has changed, we had 5 schools then, when I finished my internship in 1969 I was drafted in the army and went to Vietnam, I was stationed at the 27th surgical hospital , I think 72 DO’s served in Vietnam, I believed that was a turning point for our profession because the medical community saw how the DO’s preformed especially in a trauma situation.

    Reply

  2. Frederic Jackson, D.O., M.P.H

    Wow! I can’t keep up. I once asked “Are we training too many D.O.s?” Boy, was I wrong. I became a career Navy physician, even commanding two Naval hospitals. After that I was a DO/MD residency director, then capped it all off with ten years as a full time hospice physician. In all those positions I thank those D.O.s who paved my way. And I am especially thankful of for our D.O. philosophy of the holistic relationship between structure, function, and wellness. I hope we never dilute that understanding. Thanks, old D.O.s; Press on, new Docs.

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