Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine - OU-HCOM
Athens, Ohio
Main Campus
Warrensville Heights, Ohio Dublin, Ohio
Additional Locations
General Information
Additional Locations
Additional Locations offer the same programs as the main campus. Use the main campus' application to apply to additional locations.
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine-Cleveland - OU-HCOM Cleveland
Affiliation
Address
Campus Setting
Website https://www.ohio.edu/medicine/about/campuses/cleveland
Phone
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine-Dublin - OU-HCOM Dublin
Affiliation
Address
Campus Setting
Website https://www.ohio.edu/medicine/about/campuses/dublin
Phone
Mission Statement
Closest City Athens, OH
Campus Setting
RuralFacilities
On each campus, there are similar types of spaces that support the educational mission of the college such as large classrooms, small case-based learning rooms, learning resource centers, anatomy labs, clinical training & assessment/simulation areas, Osteopathic Manipulation laboratories, and multipurpose rooms.
Many other types of spaces exist that improve the medical student experience such as cafes, dedicated study spaces, student lounges, and game rooms. Study nooks are created in common spaces to encourage communication and collaboration.
HCOM continues to support research and scholarly activity by providing adequate laboratory facilities in multiple buildings. These facilities include wet labs, dry labs, and clinical research areas to encourage collaborative research.
Student Residence Options
Your OU-HCOM education is not limited to the classroom, labs, or clinics. Our students engage in organizations that encourage leadership, fellowship, and community service. From student government and class offices to memberships in the Rural and Urban Scholars Pathways Program, Student Osteopathic Medical Association, the Student National Medical Association, the Surgery and Sports Medicine Club, and the Lifestyle Medicine Club, OU-HCOM students on all campuses have outlets to explore leadership and medical specialty interests.
As an OU-HCOM student, your mental and physical health are our top priorities. All campuses have workout facilities, paid memberships to local fitness clubs, counseling, and psychological services. Intramural sports, state and local parks, and community service projects abound to get you out of the classroom or apartment and into the local community and fresh air.
Our Office of Student Affairs provides academic support and residency advising services to ensure you can complete the following steps to become a physician. Free tutoring, Academic Peer Support Leaders, Student Support Navigators, learning communities, Medical Education Associates, and board preparation are only a few of our services and activities. For a complete list of organizations, support systems, and student-life activities, visit OU-HCOM's Office of Student Affairs.
OU-HCOM provides a wide range of programming and research opportunities for all students. Students are encouraged to design and implement original research initiatives and conduct small research projects annually. Organizations such as the Student National Medical Association sponsors social events like the Multicultural Gala, providing the opportunity for faculty, staff, and students to socialize outside of class.
COM Accreditation Status The Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) and by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
The Heritage College underwent its most recent comprehensive accreditation visit by the COCA across all three campuses on September 27 – October 1, 2021. All accreditation standards/elements were met, and the COCA awarded the college Accreditation
with Exceptional Outcome, providing the college with a 10-year accreditation status. The college’s next comprehensive visit will occur in the academic year 2031-2032.
University Affiliation(s) Ohio University
OU-HCOM operates under a “one-college, three locations” philosophy. The admission process, requirements, and curriculum are the same no matter which campus an applicant prefers.
-
2024-2025
Academic Year Enrollment
Total Medical School Enrollment
Athens-483 Cleveland-245 Dublin-277
Total Male
Athens-212 Cleveland-94 Dublin-122
Total Female
Athens-271 Cleveland-150 Dublin-154
Total Other
Athens-0 Cleveland-1 Dublin-1
First-Year Matriculants
Athens-124 Cleveland-62 Dublin-72
First-Year Male Matriculants
Athens-51 Cleveland-21 Dublin-33
First-Year Female Matriculants
Athens-73 Cleveland-41 Dublin-39
First-Year Other Matriculants
Athens-0 Cleveland-0 Dublin-0
Matriculants Out-of-State
TBA
Self-Reported Race/Ethnicity
American Indian/Alaska Native
0%
Asian
17.9%
Black/African American
6.3%
Hispanic/Latino
5.0%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
White
59.6%
Multiple Races
4.6%
Undisclosed
6.3%
Majors of First-Year Matriculants
Science Majors
88.3%
Non-Science Majors
11.7%
Graduate Degrees
11.3%
Overview
Public Institution
Non-Profit
Ohio University
Institutional Affiliation
1975
Year Founded
Rural
Campus Setting
Campus Contact
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine - OU-HCOM
Address
(800) 345-1560
Phone
Website
Admissions Office
Curricular Offerings
Students are enrolled in the Pathways to Health and Wellness Curriculum, a four-year osteopathic curriculum that fosters horizontal and vertical integration of foundational content; opportunities for elective and/or selective pathways at all campuses; longitudinal themes throughout the curricular design; formative assessments that drive learning; interprofessional approaches to curriculum delivery; and protected time for student and faculty development, wellness and creativity.
Foundational sciences and clinical skills are integrated throughout all years of medical education, in which disciplinary divisions are blurred and woven together with elements of wellness, reflective practice, and generalism to shape an osteopathic approach to patient care.
- Education in years 1 and 2 typically occurs at one of our three academic campuses.
- In years 3 and 4, students relocate to our clinical campus sites.
Classroom learning experiences emphasize active, authentic learning in which students apply concepts learned through self-directed study and laboratory-based experiences designed to complement and reinforce clinical patient presentations. Clinical experiences, patient case studies, and an emphasis on health systems sciences and interprofessional experiences are highlighted and closely align with the single-accreditation system for graduate medical education.
Clerkship/Clinical Rotations
Clinical education experiences are an exciting component of a student's medical education. Clinical experiences are offered across the curriculum, beginning with Community and Clinical Experiences (CCEs) during years 1 and 2, followed by the Required Clinical Rotations in year 3, then Electives and Selectives in year 4.
Year 3
The third-year curriculum includes seven required clinical courses, each led by a discipline-specific expert known as a discipline director, and two longitudinal required courses. These faculty guide the student’s coursework and learning via a hybrid approach, including online learning and real-time faculty-led sessions that supplements what they experience in the clinical learning environment with their preceptors. Students participate in discipline director led education one half-day each week, plus dedicated time for education in osteopathic patient care (students will not be on rotation during this dedicated time).
Each of the required third year courses ends with a standardized Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Achievement Test (COMAT) that must be passed to successfully complete the course.
Required Clinical Rotations | Year 3
- Family Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- General Surgery
- Emergency Medicine
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Psychiatric Medicine
- Osteopathic Medicine, Manipulation, and Principles - Longitudinal Course
Year 4
In the fourth year, students finalize the remainder of their required courses, including:
- Palliative Medicine
- Health Systems & Policy
- electives in Internal Medicine subspecialties and Surgical subspecialties
- a fourth year longitudinal Osteopathic Medicine, Manipulation, and Principles course
- and a wide variety of clinical electives of their choosing.
A final standardized GME Readiness Assessment occurs in the final semester of the fourth year to ensure our students are truly ready to enter their next phase of medical education.
Preparatory/Postbaccalaureate Programs Offered
Preparatory Programs
Pre Matriculation
Pre Matriculation is a four-week accelerated introduction to the medical school experience for 24 mission-aligned entering medical students. The program, held in Athens, mirrors the content and rigor of the first semester of the Pathways to Health and Wellness Curriculum and provides opportunities for participants to become familiar with the health disparities and social determinants of health endemic to rural southeastern Ohio.
Summer Scholars
Summer Scholars is a program designed for aspiring physicians from communities experiencing health care disparities or medical provider shortages. Participants hailing from those communities participate in a rigorous 4-week program, which offers an immersive experience designed to give participants a realistic introduction to the first-year curriculum at Heritage College and to foster academic, career, and personal success.
College faculty and medical students teach courses in medical morphology, histology, immunology, and biochemistry. There are also workshops on the admissions process, learning strategies, time management, and other areas relevant to the medical school experience. Annually, the program accepts 24 applicants who have encountered barriers that have impeded their path to medical school but are passionate about practicing medicine with populations and in communities where medical resources and access to health care are limited.
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Participants in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program work in an active research laboratory under the guidance of a faculty mentor. This eight-week program is designed to expose you to the challenges, excitement, and satisfaction of biomedical and basic science research.
COMCorps, an AmeriCorp Program
COMCorps members serve a 10.5 or 11.5-month term packed with 1,700 hours of life-changing experience serving others. COMCorps service members are active in schools and agencies as they deliver health-related projects.
Transformative Care Continuum
The Transformative Care Continuum is an accelerated, competency-based program that prepares students for careers in family medicine through a continuous experience from medical school through residency and beyond.
Diabetes Institute Summer Interprofessional Research Experience (DISIRE) Summer Undergraduate Program
The DISIRE curriculum is designed to educate undergraduates who may not have a background in diabetes but are interested in the field of diabetes research. It is interdisciplinary-focused and consists of online instruction, weekly seminars, journal club didactics, a group capstone project, and research with a mentor. The online course will be an abridged version of “Diabetes: From Bench-to-Bedside”, an existing, comprehensive course that explores the genetics, physiology, treatment, self-management, and psychosocial care of diabetes. Students participating in the apprentice-based research experience will develop research skills and build self-efficacy.
Special Programs
PreDOc
PreDOC is a nationwide student organization with the purpose of educating premed students about osteopathic medicine and the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. PreDOC meets every month during the academic year, both in-person on our HCOM campuses and virtually. The goal of PreDOC is to create a close-knit community of premed students who are informed, inspired, and excited about practicing osteopathic medicine. PreDOC is an opportunity for any and all premedical students -undergraduate students, graduate students, and even those who are taking gap years or are interested in making a career change. You can learn more about upcoming programming by joining our GroupMe (https://groupme.com/join_group/78030534/YlAKkjKY). The PreDOC password is "Bobcats".
Rural and Urban Scholars Pathways
The Rural and Urban Scholars Pathways(https://www.ohio.edu/medicine/about/offices/rural-underserved-programs/rural-urban-scholars) program is a co-curricular learning community that aims to support and prepare medical students to practice in medically underserved areas.
Open Book Project
The Open Book Project (https://www.ohio.edu/medicine/about/offices/rural-underserved-programs/open-book-project) is a three-semester elective at the Heritage College for first- and second-year students. Students who choose to participate in the Open Book Project elective will join a small group of fellow students and two facilitators weekly to examine a piece of narrative work (think: paintings, lyrics, poems, short stories, etc.) and engage in the practices of narrative medicine including close reading, radical listening and reflective writing. The sessions run 60-90 minutes in length and will require little preparation. Just come ready to be an active participant and “respectful and humble witness.”
Rural Health Scholars
The Rural Health Scholars (https://www.ohio.edu/medicine/about/offices/rural-underserved-programs/rural-health-scholars) program represents an ongoing collaboration between the Office of Rural and Underserved Programs at the Heritage College and the Ohio State University Department of Family and Community Medicine. Established in2002, the Ohio Rural Health Scholars strategy has served the medical schools of Ohio well in attracting students to excellence in clinical practice, in research, in advocacy and in medical education. Open to any student from any medical school in Ohio with an interest in generalist rural practice, this small program is structured around an annual retreat held in a rural setting and enrolls participating students as members of the National Rural Health Association. The program is made possible through an Ohio State University Department of Family Medicine endowment fund established by the family of Dr. J. Martin Byers, Jr., a family physician who practiced in rural Ohio.
Rural Experience in Appalachian Community Health
The Rural Experience in Appalachian Community Health (REACH), (https://www.ohio.edu/medicine/about/offices/
appalachia-health/opportunities/reach-program) program immerses students in community health in rural southeast Ohio for four weeks upon completion of year one at Heritage College. This program emphasizes the connection between public health and medicine through engagement with local non-profit social support organizations and a family medicine clinical experience. Students will have the opportunity to spend time in both the OhioHealth O'Bleness Family Medicine Residency Clinic and Hocking Athens Perry Community Action Agency (HAPCAP).Clinic time will include participation in an ongoing quality improvement project aimed at connecting patients in need to local resources (i.e. nutrition, transportation, housing, etc.), as well as participating in patient care with physicians and residents. A $2,000 stipend will be awarded to two students selected to participate in this program.
Dual Degrees/Concurrent Programs Offered
DO/BME
The DO/BME in Biomedical Engineering program integrates medicine and technology. Biomedical engineering is a rapidly growing field that prepares students with the technological tools and understanding to specialize in the areas of Biomechanics, Cellular/Biomolecular Engineering and Biomedical Information Processing.
DO/MGH
The Master of Global Health dual degree program is designed for medical students interested in developing skills to work with multicultural, low resource, and vulnerable populations. Graduates with a DO/MGH can take a broad range of career paths including permanent or temporary involvement in groups such as Doctor’s Without Borders, Partners in Health, WHO, CDC and similar organizations. This dual degree also provides a focused competency to physicians working with immigrant/migrant populations.
DO/MBA
The DO/MBA program combines the study of medicine with training in managerial, financial and technical expertise that can be applied to healthcare. In addition to enhancing the leadership characteristics of physicians, this training path can be applied in other areas including hospital administration, healthcare policy and related fields such as biotechnology.
DO/PhD
The DO/PhD combines training in medicine and research for students interested in becoming physician-scientists. Demand for physicians with this dual training is high and can lead to careers as faculty members at medical schools, universities and research institutes. Students select mentors to engage in research in a variety of health-related areas of study, with particular emphasis on translational research.
Premedical Coursework
Courses below are shown as either Recommended or Required and, when applicable, include the number of semester hours needed.
Anatomy
Recommended With Lab3 semester hours
Biochemistry
Recommended With Lab3 semester hours
Biology/Zoology
Required With Lab8 semester hours
Chemistry (Inorganic)
Required With Lab8 semester hours
Chemistry (Organic)
Required With Lab8 semester hours
Genetics
Recommended3 semester hours
Immunology
Recommended3 semester hours
Physics
Required With Lab8 semester hours
Physiology
Recommended With Lab3 semester hours
Additional Science Courses
Behavioral Sciences
Required6 semester hours
College English
Required6 semester hours
Math/Statistics
Recommended3 semester hours
Admissions
OU-HCOM only considers those with completed application files for a potential interview. A completed file consists of a verified AACOMAS application, official and valid MCAT scores, and receipt of all secondary application materials. Applicants are responsible for monitoring the status of their application.
Candidates are notified of their pre-selected interview date via email by the office of admissions. Interviews are scheduled on Tuesdays from mid–September until late April. Admission decisions are made the same day as the interview. Candidates will be notified of the committee decision on the next business day.
Interview Options: Virtual interviews only
Physician letter required? N/A; no physician letter required
Virtual Shadowing Options? Will accept EITHER virtual or in-person shadowing
Accepts online coursework to fulfill prerequisite requirements? Yes, but only in certain circumstances
All coursework must be completed at a U.S. regionally accredited institution.Accepts prerequisite coursework pass/fail grades? Yes
Will your institution waive MCAT exam requirements? Yes, but only in certain circumstances
The MCAT is only waived for students in our Early Assurance Program.Accepts online lab coursework? Yes, but only in certain circumstances
All coursework must be completed at a U.S. regionally accredited institution.Primary Application Service: AACOMAS
Earliest Application Submission Date: May 4, 2026
Primary Application Deadline: February 1, 2027
Submission Timing for Best Consideration
First Year Class Matriculant's Selection Factors
Applicants to OU-HCOM must be U.S. citizens or hold a permanent visa. We welcome candidates from out-of-state and from any major, with the understanding that all prerequisites must be complete prior to matriculation. Most candidates have their bachelor’s degree, with many having advanced degrees.
Candidates with three years of outstanding academic work and related experiences may also be considered. In addition to strong academics, applicants should have numerous experiences that reflect maturity, service, clinical experience and exposure, and a commitment to personal and professional growth. Attributes integral to a successful candidate include strong moral character, professional behavior and a commitment to integrity and compassionate care.
Early submission of the AACOMAS application and all supporting secondary documents is strongly encouraged and is beneficial in the rolling admissions process. OU-HCOM does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or military veteran status in its employment practices or in the provision of educational programs and services.
International Students Accepted? Does Not Accept International Students
Are Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) students considered for admissions? No
Application Interview Format: Traditional
Early Decision Program (EDP)
EDP Offered? No
EDP Applications Submitted To Other
OU-HCOM does not offer an Early Decision Program.Supplemental Application
Supplemental Application Required? Yes
The Heritage College will receive your primary application electronically from AACOMAS and determine whether you are eligible for a secondary application. All Ohio residents will receive a secondary application. All other applicants will receive a secondary application if they have at least a 495 MCAT and a 3.0 science GPA.
However, to be considered a competitive applicant, candidates should have metrics closer to a 3.60 science GPA and a 504 MCAT. If eligible, you will receive an email with information on how to set up your Heritage College application portal via the email address listed on the primary application.
Earliest Supplemental Application Submission Date: May 15, 2026
Supplemental Application Deadline: March 15, 2027
Supplemental Application Sent To: Screened Applicants
All Ohio residents will receive a secondary application. All other applicants will receive a secondary application if they have at least a 495 MCAT and a 3.0 science GPA.Supplemental Application Fee: $60
Supplemental Application Fee Refundable? No
Supplemental Application Fee Waiver Available? Yes
Yes, if an AACOMAS Fee Waiver was awarded.Orientation/Start Date for First Year Students
August 3, 2026
Deferred Entrance Requests Considered? Yes
Applicants accepted into the entering class may request a one-year deferment of enrollment by submitting a written request to ou-hcom@ohio.edu. The admissions committee will contact the accepted student via email with its decision on the request to defer. Candidates admitted from the waitlist are not permitted to request a deferment of enrollment unless there are extenuating circumstances. Multiple-year deferrals are not permissible.
Acceptance/deposit deadlines conform to the AACOMAS Traffic Guidelines Schedule? Yes
Osteopathic Medical College (COM) applicants may be asked to submit necessary matriculation documents, including a deposit, according to the following AACOMAS traffic guideline schedule:
- Those accepted prior to November 15 to have until December 14.
- Those accepted between November 15 and January 14 to have 30 days
- Those accepted between January 15 and April 30 to have 14 days.
- Those accepted on or after May 1 may be asked by the accepting COM for an immediate deposit.
- After May 1 of the year of matriculation, each COM has the discretion to implement COM-specific procedures for accepted students who hold one or more seats at other COMs.
Mean MCAT Score
503.5
Avg. Cum. Undergrad GPA Score
3.68
Oldest MCAT Considered: January 1, 2024
Latest MCAT Score Accepted: January 31, 2027
Accepted Sources for Letters of Recommendation
- AACOMAS
- Interfolio
- Paper
Main Admissions Contact
Tuition, Fees & Financial Aid
2026-2027 Academic Year
In-State Tuition
$38,564 (2026/27 TBA)
Out-of-State Tuition
$56,284 (2026/27 TBA)
Annual Fees
In-State Resident Fees
$2,578 (2026/27 TBA)
Out-of-State Resident Fees
$2,578 (2026/27 TBA)
Health Insurance Fee
$3,098 (2026/27 TBA)
Tuition Fees Include
Estimates, Deposits, and More
Estimated Annual Room Board, Books, and Living Costs
$TBA
Average Graduate Indebtedness
$TBA
Acceptance Deposit
$500
Additional Deposit
$1,000
Deposit Applied to Tuition? Yes
Deposit Refundable? No
Financial Aid Website https://www.ohio.edu/medicine/med-admissions/financing/
Percent of Enrolled Students with Financial Aid TBA%
Scholarships Offered? Yes
Annual Scholarship/Grant Per Student: $TBA