The DO schools on U.S. News’ best medical schools list for 2025

U.S. News and World Report recently released its 2025 lists of the best medical schools in the U.S. The lists of the best medical schools for research and primary care each included 13 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 197 fully accredited medical schools on faculty resources and student academic achievement. To create the research and primary care lists, they also surveyed research activity and the number of graduates in primary care residency and practicing in primary care.

For the second consecutive year, the primary care rankings discontinued the use of peer assessment and residency director assessments that previously equaled 25% of the ranking. Also for the second year, rather than numerical rankings, the best schools for primary care and research are placed in four tiers of performance, with Tier 1 being the highest-performing schools.

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

Best medical schools for primary care

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

Tier 2, University of North Texas Health Science Center/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 2, Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine-CA

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 3, Ohio University-Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 3, University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 4, Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

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

Tier 4, Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 4, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine

Best medical schools for research

Tier 3, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 3, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 3, University of North Texas Health Science Center/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 4, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 4, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

Tier 4, Ohio University-Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 4, Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 4, Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 4, Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine-CA

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 seven schools with the most graduates practicing primary care are all DO schools, and 13 of the top 20 schools are DO schools.

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

#2 Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#3 William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#5 Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine-CA

#6 (tie) A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#9 Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

#11 (tie) Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#15 West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

#16 Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#21 Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#22 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

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

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

#35 Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine

#36 Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#37 Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

#39 Ohio University-Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

#40 Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#45 Nova Southeastern University Kiran C Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

#47 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

#116 Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine

#166 Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

Medical schools with the most graduates practicing in underserved areas

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

#3 Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#4 William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

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

#11 Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

#12 Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#15 University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#24 Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

#28 West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

#38 Nova Southeastern University Kiran C Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

#41 Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

#43 University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

#65 Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#70 Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#71 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

#87 Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine

#88 (tie) Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#95 Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

#116 Ohio University-Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

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

#134 Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine-CA

#144 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

#164 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 University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#7 William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#10 Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#15 Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

#16 West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

#17 Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#21 Ohio University-Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

#27 Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#28 Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

#29 Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

#31 Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#41 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

#57 Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#72 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#77 Nova Southeastern University Kiran C Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

#84 Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#101 Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine-CA

#143 Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine

#161 Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine

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

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