Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) is a private university established in 1897 in honor of Abraham Lincoln’s wish of being able to do something for the people in the area of Harrogate, Tennessee.
In 2004, the DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine was founded at LMU.
Is LMU-DCOM a good medical school? How does it fare in comparison with some of the best medical schools in the US?
Is Lincoln Memorial University a good Medical School?
Yes, LMU is a good medical school. Regardless of the school’s graduation rate of 53%, over the past 4 years, over 98% of graduate students from the DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine were placed into great graduate medical education programs.
To help you understand why Lincoln Memorial University is a good medical school, we’ll be covering the school’s admission requirements, acceptance rates, and tuition costs. We’ll also go over some student reviews to understand the pros and cons of studying there.
Lincoln Memorial University Medical School Admission Requirements
There are over 5,100 students enrolled at Lincoln Memorial University. The class of 2025 at DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine is currently composed of 418 future physicians. The school offers three main programs:
- Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
- Doctor of Physical Therapy
- Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
The DO program is a four-year, full-time curriculum divided into two phases. Years one and two cover pre-clinical sciences and years three and four are reserved for clinical experiences. The program flawlessly integrates the biological, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences.
Admission requirements for this involve submitting a primary application through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS), a secondary supplemental application for LMU-DCOM, and a few recommendation letters.
The recommendation letters required include one Pre-Medical Committee letter or two letters from science professors, and one Physician Letter DO or MD. A few selected students might be required to attend an interview.
Doctor of Physical Therapy
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program consists of 114 credits taught over the course of 3 years. 34 weeks of this program are dedicated to full-time clinical internships.
The curriculum follows the guidelines in place according to the APTA Standards of Practice for Physical Therapy, the Core Values for the Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist Assistant, and the APTA Minimum Required Skills of Physical Therapist Graduates at Entry Level.
Admission requirements for this program depend on the chosen entry path. The first path is the freshman guaranteed professional admission (BS/DPT). This is for high school seniors looking to complete their BS in Exercise and Rehabilitation Science degree and DPT degree in six years.
Pathway one requires a minimum GPA of 3.2 and a minimum composite ACT score of 19 or SAT score of 1010. Students also need to write a personal statement and provide two references.
Pathway 2 is the Undergraduate “3+3” (BS/DPT). This is for LMU students who wish to change their major to Exercise and Rehabilitation Science or transferring students. Before entering the program students must complete 45 hours of observation/shadowing.
They also must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.8 in all LMU courses and a minimum 3.0 GPA in prerequisite courses. Two character references and an interview with the DPT faculty are also required.
The final pathway is the port-baccalaureate study entry. This is for non-LMU students with a Bachelor’s degree from another 4-year institution. They require a minimum 2.8 overall GPA, a minimum 3.0 GPA in prerequisite courses, and three character references.
Students also need to submit to an interview with DPT faculty, complete 45 hours of observation/shadowing, and write a personal statement.
Doctor of Occupational Therapy
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy program requires the completion of 108 credits over the course of 9 consecutive semesters. It prepares students to be entry-level occupational therapists by providing the means for critical thinking and using collaborative and client-centered care, and evidence-based practice.
Admission requirements include at least 90 credit hours of complete college coursework, a 3.0 overall GPA, and a 2.8 GPA on college math/science coursework. There’s also the need to three professional letters of reference, a personal statement, and a minimum of 40 hours of shadowing occupational therapists.
Lincoln Memorial University Acceptance Rate
According to the US Department of Education College Scorecard, Lincoln Memorial University has an acceptance rate of 69%. This means that for every 100 applicants only 69 are accepted into the school, which is still selective.
Unfortunately, DeBusk’s acceptance rate isn’t public. But based on average medical school acceptance rates, you can safely assume it’s a lot more competitive than LMU’s overall rate.
Lincoln Memorial University Match Data
LMU has a good matching record, allowing students to access great residency programs across the country. Match results for the class of 2022 show that 76% placed into a Primary Care (168 students) Track Residency 25% placed into a Residency in the Appalachian Region 9% placed in a Residency in Tennesse.
51 students got matched into a specialty track residency. Some of them included specialties like general surgery, orthopedic surgery, neurology, and dermatology.
Lincoln Memorial University Tuition
LMU prides itself on offering educational opportunities at lower costs when compared to other private universities. While the average cost of attending a four-year private college for one year is around $54,800, LMU yearly tuition for undergraduate students is only $24,720 per year.
Full tuition costs vary depending on the chosen program. For instance, the entire Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program costs $217,400. Other indirect costs include books, supplies, room and board, and transportation.
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy program and the Doctor of Physical Therapy program cost $131,260 and $120,840 respectively, including direct and indirect fees.
Does Lincoln Memorial University Accept AP Credits?
Yes, Lincoln Memorial University accepts AP credits. The only way AP credits are accepted is if they’re listed on a university transcript. LMU staff verifies the final grades for all prerequisites before accepting students into the school.
Does Lincoln Memorial University Offer Scholarships?
Yes, Lincoln Memorial University offers scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate students. Some are based in merit, financial aid need, or even state-based. Here are a few examples of scholarships available at LMU:
- Cornerstone Scholarship. Students in the Cornerstone Program with a high school GPA of 2.63 and a good ACT score might qualify for this scholarship. It covers $4,000 of the freshman year.
- Legacy Scholarship. Dedicated to students with immediate family members in attendance or who graduated from LMU. This scholarship awards $1,000 for the year or $500 for the semester.
- Hope Scholarship. The HOPE Scholarship was created for freshmen who just graduated from an eligible Tennessee high school with a minimum ACT score of 21 or a 3.0 GPA.
Lincoln Memorial University Accreditation
Lincoln Memorial University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Individual programs are also accredited by several accrediting institutions.
Some of these institutions include the American Osteopathic Association-Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), and the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.
Is Lincoln Memorial University Good?
Yes, Lincoln Memorial University is a good school. Not only does it provide quality knowledge through expert faculty, but it also creates great opportunities for medical students to match into top residency programs.
Apart from this, students can expect a low student-to-faculty ratio, personal attention, and a great sense of community. LMU is located in a rural area, so students can take advantage of that to really focus on their studies without distractions.
Pros of Studying at Lincoln Memorial University
- Low student-to-faculty ratio
- State-of-the-art tech
- Great sense of community
- New and clean buildings
- Helpful faculty
Cons of Studying at Lincoln Memorial University
- Competitive programs
- Not many entertainment options
Students and Graduate Reviews of Lincoln Memorial University
Student reviews from websites like Grad Reports and Rate My Professors are mostly great. Students praise the state-of-the-art tech the school provides, the support from the faculty, and the family-like atmosphere. They also enjoy the fact that they have a say in the making of their curriculum.
The only negative aspect of studying at LMU might be the fact that it is located in a rural area. This means that there isn’t much to do there in your spare time. However, most students seem to benefit from the lack of distractions.
