California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine
California · Less selective by the numbers · Founded 2012
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Admissions statistics
- Median MCAT
- 505
- MCAT range (25–75)
- 502–508
- Median GPA
- 3.57
- GPA range (25–75)
- 3.39–3.69
- Science GPA
- 3.45
- Acceptance rate
- ~10.9% (est.)
- Interview rate
- Not reported
Median MCAT by section (estimated)
- Chem / Phys
- 126
- CARS
- 125
- Bio / Biochem
- 126
- Psych / Soc
- 127
Section medians are projected from the total using the publicly published national section distribution (CARS runs lowest, Psych/Soc highest). Schools rarely publish their own per-section medians, so this is an estimate; real values are shown when we've sourced them.
vs US DO matriculants: MCAT +1.5 (nat. 503.5), GPA -0.03 (nat. 3.60).
MCAT range by residency Premier estimate
| Matriculants | 10th | 25th | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combined | 498.7 | 501.5 | 508.9 | 512.4 |
| In-state | 499.6 | 502.8 | 511.2 | 515.2 |
| Out-of-state | 501.8 | 504.9 | 511.9 | 515.1 |
The box spans the 25th–75th percentile; the whiskers reach the 10th and 90th. Premier's model estimates the full spread and the residency split from the published median, using its out-of-state share — calibrated across every US MD program and validated to within ~1.5 points of reported figures. Estimates are shown to one decimal. How this works.
Class profile
- Entering class size
- 162
- Public / Private
- Private
- Setting
- Not reported
- % Out-of-state
- 9%
- Orientation
- Service-oriented
Research vs. service orientation
Service-oriented (18/100) — New DO school w/ Central Valley rural/underserved mission, ~60-65% primary-care match, no MSTP/research ranking
In-state vs. out-of-state class makeup
Course exams
Core clerkship exams are the NBOME's standardized COMAT subject exams — standardized nationally, so they're consistent across DO schools. Whether the preclinical years lean on in-house, NBME-based, or a mix of exams isn't something schools publish in one place — so we don't guess per school; confirm specifics with the school.
Cost & aid
- Cost of attendance
- $118,103
- Avg. graduate debt
- Not reported
- Secondary fee
- Not reported
- % receiving aid
- Not reported
Tuition & cost of attendance verified against the school's official site (official source, Cost: 2026-2027; Class profile: Class of 2029 (entered Fall 2025)). Schools report "tuition" vs. "tuition & fees" differently and some (e.g. NYU Grossman, Kaiser early cohorts) award universal scholarships — always confirm on the official page.
Prerequisites & requirements
Typical for US DO programs — confirm this school's exact list.
- Biology
- 1 year with lab
- General Chemistry
- 1 year with lab
- Organic Chemistry
- 1 year with lab
- Biochemistry
- 1 semester (recommended/required)
- Physics
- 1 year with lab
- English / writing
- 1 year
- Math / statistics
- 1 semester–1 year (varies)
- Psychology & Sociology
- Recommended for the MCAT
Required tests
- MCAT — required
- CASPer: not required
- AAMC PREview: varies — verify
Letters of recommendation
- 3–5 letters or a committee letter
- At least one letter from a science faculty member
- A letter from a DO (osteopathic) physician is strongly preferred
Application timeline (AACOMAS)
Most US programs admit on a rolling basis — applying early materially helps.
What this school weighs
- GPA & MCAT (academic readiness)
- Clinical experience & shadowing (including osteopathic shadowing)
- Research experience
- Community service & volunteering
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement & secondary essays
- Interview performance & mission fit
- State residency (especially at public schools)
Secondary essay prompts (2024-2025)
⚠ Crowdsourced & anecdotal — secondary prompts change every cycle and may be incomplete. Always confirm on the school's own secondary application.
- Please explain any personal connection you may have to the local area and its residents.
- CHSU-COM values a diverse student body that reflects our region and our world. Please explain how you personally would contribute to diversity at CHSU-COM. · 250 words
- Discuss common healthcare disparities in resource-limited areas like California's Central Valley and how CHSU-COM might help address them. · 250 words
Interview
⚠ Anecdotal — based on applicant-reported experiences (e.g. SDN). Format and questions vary year to year; treat as a guide, not a script.
Format: Traditional
Traditional one-on-one interview (single interview, ~28 minutes), conducted mostly virtually and closed-file (interviewers do not see scores, grades, or application). Applicants describe it as relaxed and conversational with friendly staff, though some felt constrained by a structured question list.
Questions applicants report
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why have you committed to becoming a physician?
- Why osteopathic medicine?
- What do you understand about the Central Valley's health challenges?
- What would you do if you caught another student cheating?
- Tell us about a meaningful experience and how it shaped you.
Key facts
- Degree
- DO
- Type
- Private
- Location
- California
- Region
- West
- Interview format
- Traditional
- Preclinical grading
- Not reported
- Licensing exam
- COMLEX-USA (many students also take USMLE)
- Oldest MCAT accepted
- January 31, 2023 or newer
- International applicants
- Not considered
- DACA applicants
- Considered
- Early Decision
- Offered
- Deferral
- Allowed
Stats from the school's published class profile and publicly available national data. Prerequisite, timeline, and letter guidance is typical for US DO programs and may differ at this school. Some figures are being verified. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the AAMC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What MCAT score do I need for CHSU-COM?
California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine has a median MCAT of 505 (typical accepted range about 502–508). At or above the median is most competitive; below the 25th percentile (502) is a reach without other strengths.
What GPA does CHSU-COM require?
The median accepted GPA is about 3.57 (roughly 3.39–3.69). There's no hard cutoff, but below the median you'll want to be strong elsewhere.
What are the prerequisites for CHSU-COM?
Like most US DO programs, expect a year each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics (all with labs), biochemistry, and English, plus math/statistics. Psychology and sociology are recommended for the MCAT. Always confirm the school's exact list.
Is CHSU-COM hard to get into?
Its acceptance rate is approximately 10.9% — less selective by the numbers for US DO programs.
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