California’s three doctors of osteopathy (DO) schools train physicians to take a more holistic approach to medicine than their allopathic (MD) cousins. Options with rolling admissions, minority-friendly schools, and dual enrollment, all exist.
This article takes a look at each of the states’ DO options and provides you with all the key facts and figures you’ll most likely want to know.
List Of DO Schools In California
Data and ranking positions are determined by U.S. News reports and individual medical school data.
California Health Sciences University – College of Osteopathic Medicine (CHSUCOM)
| Location: | Clovis, CA |
| National University Rank: | Unranked |
| Average MCAT: | 507.4 |
| Acceptance Rate: | 3% (2025 class) |
| Tuition: | $54,500 |
| Average GPA: | 3.5 |
| Enrollment: | 196 |
CHSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine is the first program of its kind in the Central Valley, and it seeks to serve the local community, especially the underserved population. Medical Spanish courses help med students learn the language and cultural aspects that may affect a Spanish-speaking patient’s health.
Med students spend the first two years learning from a modified, two-pass systems-based curricular model. It is a patient scenario with scientific principles, problem-solving, active learning, and clinical practice. And in the last years, students have gained hands-on experience through clinical clerkships in regional hospitals, clinics, and health care facilities.
The College of Osteopathic Medicine building opened in 2020, incorporates innovative technology, and has gorgeous views of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
The school has large classrooms, an Osteopathic Skills lab, a library, a spacious student lounge with Teaching Kitchen, and a Simulation Center.
It had an inaugural class of 79 students in 2020, a second of 120 students in 2021, and a third of 157 students in 2022. The fourth will have approximately 150 med students who will begin classes in July 2023.
School Requirements
To be eligible, applicants must hold US Citizenship, US Permanent Resident, or DACA Recipient, and these school’s minimum requirements:
- Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
- A GPA of 3.0
- MCAT of 498 or higher, with no subsection below the 15th percentile (January 1st, 2020, or later).
- Letters of Recommendation: 1) one from a physician (DO or MD) and 2) one academic letter from a professor who has instructed the applicant.
You’ll also need to match prereqs in the following:
- Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester-credits
- Biology: 8 semester credits / one year
- Inorganic or General Chemistry: 4 semester-credits
- Organic Chemistry: 8 semester-credits
- Physics: 8 semester-credits
- English/Composition/Literature: 6 semester-credits
How To Apply
CHSU-COM’s application process has eight successive phases:
- AACOMAS Primary Application Submission
- Primary Application Review: Admissions staff screens applications to ensure that they meet the minimum criteria
- Invitation to Complete Supplemental Application: it includes two essays, an evaluator identification verification, and payment of the Supplemental Application Fee
- Review of Supplemental Application: applications are reviewed in depth, and Admissions staff will verify that all required Letters of Recommendation have been received
- Offer for Interview: interviews are virtual, and candidates might be invited at any time after primary and supplemental applications since CHSU-COM utilizes rolling admissions.
- Interview
- Recommendation to the Dean: the Admissions Committee will perform a holistic review and consider the entire application package and interview performance before making a recommendation to the Dean
- Dean Makes Final Admission Decision: the Dean has the final decision, and COM Admissions staff will notify the candidate of the decision.
CHSU-COM utilizes a rolling admissions process, and applicants must apply early in the cycle to be competitive. The AACOMAS and all other required materials must be received before March 1st, 2023.
DETAILS
- Name: California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Phone: 559-712-4200
- Website: osteopathic.chsu.edu
Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine (Vallejo, CA)
| Location: | Vallejo, CA |
| National University Rank: | Unranked |
| Average MCAT: | 506.9 |
| Tuition: | $58,960 |
| Average GPA: | 3.54 |
| Enrollment: | 179 (first-year matriculants) |
Touro University Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program combines biological, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences, looking to educate its physicians on primary and specialty care while following osteopathic principles.
Its curriculum is structured into preclinical and clinical education, two years each, for four years.
Keeping its mission and values, it seeks applicants committed to primary care and lifelong community service and holistically approaches patients.
The college considers the entire context of osteopathic review to identify and value applicant experiences, socio-economic determinants of opportunity, and academic metrics that align with osteopathic principles, the osteopathic approach to patient care, equity, and diversity.
School Requirements
Touro doesn’t accept international students. Therefore, only individuals who permanently reside in the United States at the time of application, including DACA recipients, can apply and matriculate.
To apply, candidates have to meet the following minimum requirements:
- Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Minimum Science and Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater (successful candidates have a Science and Cumulative GPA of 3.3 or greater).
- MCAT score of 500 or better.
- Letter of recommendation from a Pre-Professional Advisory Committee Letter OR two letters from biological/physical sciences professors who have taught the candidate. A letter from a doctor (DO or MD) is also recommended.
Many criteria set the bases under what candidates are evaluated, but it includes mainly the following:
- Academic Competence
- Personal/Professional Achievements
- Demonstrated Leadership Skills
- Creative Abilities
- Experience in Health Care
- Likelihood to Practice in Under-Served Primary Care Areas
Candidates must complete the following coursework with a grade of “C” or better:
- Biology
- Physics
- Chemistry
- General/Inorganic Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry (may substitute 4-semester units of Biochemistry for 4-semester units of Organic Chemistry)
- Biochemistry
- 2 courses in College English
- 2 courses in Behavioral Science
- 1 course (minimum 4-semester units) of Math/Computer Science
Although not required, it is recommended that incoming students enroll in Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, and Biochemistry.
How To Apply
They don’t accept direct applications, and all applicants must submit a primary application through AACOMAS. Eligible candidates must submit a secondary application through the TUC system (an application fee of $100 is required).
The Admissions Committee review complete files and extend invitations to interview on a rolling basis. Interviews are panel formatted and are typically held from late September through April or early May.
Students (incoming and current) may be required to submit a background check before or during their enrollment.
DETAILS
- Name: Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine (Vallejo, CA)
- Phone: 702-777-8687
- Website: com.tu.edu
Western University of Health Sciences – College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) and COMP-Northwest
| Location: | Pomona, CA |
| National University Rank: | Unranked |
| Average MCAT: | 508 |
| Acceptance Rate: | 3% (2025 class) |
| Tuition: | $60,750 |
| Average GPA: | 3.65 |
| Enrollment: | 336 (first-year admissions) |
The College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific’s curriculum consists of four years of full-time academic and clinical programs, and it also has a DO/MPH dual enrollment program for students who wants a deeper understanding of public health practice and research.
Related: Is Western University A Good Medical School? (Major Pros & Cons)
WesternU COMP students have hands-on research experience working with faculty researchers. The main fields of interest include:
- Anatomy
- Cancer
- Clinical Research
- Educational Research
- Evolutionary Biology
- Immunology & Microbiology
- Metabolic Diseases
- Neurobiology
- Pharmacology
School Requirements
Candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Recommended overall GPA of 3.0 OR a minimum of a one-year post-baccalaureate or master’s degree program GPA of 3.4 with a minimum of 25 semester science credit hours.
- A baccalaureate degree with a minimum of 90 semester credit hours.
- Recommended MCAT score of 500 or higher (within the last three years).
- The CASPer online evaluation.
The college seeks students academically prepared and with:
- Diverse experiences.
- Community interest and involvement.
- Commitment to compassionate health care.
- Good understanding of the profession and WesternU.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Besides it all, you must match the following academic prereqs:
- College English
- Behavioral Sciences
- Biological Sciences with lab
- Organic Chemistry with lab
- Inorganic Chemistry with lab
- Physics with lab
The Admissions Committee employs a holistic approach in which non-academic criteria are also crucial in selecting.
The college seeks a diverse and balanced student population. It considers factors additional to academic performance, such as a well-rounded background, cognitive and experiential diversity, work experiences, letters of recommendation, interest in and knowledge of osteopathic medicine, and professional promise.
How To Apply
The college uses Altus Assessments to help them recruit candidates.
Altus Assessments has developed three assessments for the evaluation of candidates for admission:
- CASPer
- Snapshot
- Duet
The college requires applicants to take the CASPer assessment, which should be done by completing the Secondary Application, and applications without a CASPer Report will not be considered.
Although it will not be used in the decision process, COMP-Northwest chose to trial Duet for 2022-2023 and recommended all applicants take the assessment.
There is a separate application for the Pomona and Lebanon campuses; applicants can apply to one or both. If you apply to both campuses, you must submit two secondary applications and two processing fees, but only one set of letters.
DETAILS
- Name: Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
- Phone: 909-623-6116
- Website: westernu.edu/osteopathic
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