The DO schools on U.S. News’ best medical schools list for 2026

U.S. News and World Report recently released its 2026 lists of the best medical schools in the U.S. The lists of the best medical schools for research and primary care each included 12 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, U.S. News surveyed 203 fully accredited medical and osteopathic schools. 102 schools qualified for research rankings and 99 for primary care. Schools that declined to participate or lacked sufficient data are labeled unranked.

For the third consecutive 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 best medical schools for primary care and research lists are below. Also below are the top 20 osteopathic medical schools included on the lists of the schools with the most graduates in family medicine, underserved areas and rural areas. 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 1, William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 2, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 2, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 2, Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine-CA

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

Tier 3, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 3, Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 3, Nova Southeastern University Kiran C Patel 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, Rocky Vista University College 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, Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

Tier 4, Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tier 4, Touro 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 nine schools with the most graduates practicing primary care are all DO schools, and 16 of the top 20 schools are DO schools.

#1 William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#3 Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#4 Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

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

#7 University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#9 Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine-CA

#11 Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#14 Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#17 Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#18 Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine

#19 West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

#22 Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

#23 Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

#24 Midwestern University/Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine

#26 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

Medical schools with the most graduates practicing in underserved areas

Five of the top 10 schools with the most graduates practicing in medically underserved areas are all DO schools.

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

#2 Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#3 William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#8 Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

#14 Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#16 University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#21 University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#30 Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#32 Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

#33 West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#47 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#48 (tie) Midwestern University/Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine

#73 Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#85 Lake Erie College 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

#3 William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#6 University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

#7 Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

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

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

#12 Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#15 Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#19 West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

#21 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

#23 Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

#25 Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#30 Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#37 Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

#51 Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

#53 Ohio University-Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

#70 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

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

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