Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine: MCAT & Admissions

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Admissions statistics

Median MCAT: 506
MCAT range (25–75): 503–509
Median GPA: 3.65
GPA range (25–75): 3.47–3.77
Science GPA: 3.58
Acceptance rate: ~10.9% (est.)
Interview rate: Not reported

Median MCAT by section (estimated)

Chem / Phys: 126
CARS: 126
Bio / Biochem: 127
Psych / Soc: 128

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 +2.5 (nat. 503.5), GPA +0.05 (nat. 3.60).

MCAT range by residency Premier estimate

My MCAT score see where you fall

Matriculants	10th	25th	75th	90th
Combined	499.7	502.5	509.8	513.2
In-state	500.9	503.7	511.6	514.6
Out-of-state	501.3	504.1	511.2	514.7

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: 225
Public / Private: Private
Setting: Not reported
% Out-of-state: 83%
Orientation: Service-oriented

Research vs. service orientation

Service / primary careBalancedResearch

Service-oriented (18/100) — Top-15 U.S. News primary-care & rural rankings, DO primary-care/rural mission, no MSTP, no major NIH/AMC research identity.

In-state vs. out-of-state class makeup

In-state

17%

Out-of-state

83%

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

In-state tuition

$68,620

Out-of-state tuition

$68,620

Cost of attendance: $102,669
Avg. graduate debt: Not reported
Secondary fee: $60
% receiving aid: Not reported

Tuition & cost of attendance verified against the school's official site (official source, 2026-2027). 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)

AACOMAS opens

Early May

Submit primary (rolling — submit early)

Late May – June

Secondary applications

June – August

Interviews

August – March

Rolling decisions

Sept onward

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 (2023-2024 (no separa)

⚠ Crowdsourced & anecdotal — secondary prompts change every cycle and may be incomplete. Always confirm on the school's own secondary application.

Describe your exposure to osteopathic medicine, including experiences with physicians in primary care or rural practice within the U.S. How have these experiences impacted you and your pursuit of osteopathic medical education as it relates to the mission of Des Moines University?
What activities are you currently or planning to pursue leading up to potential matriculation?

Interview

⚠ Anecdotal — based on applicant-reported experiences (e.g. SDN). Format and questions vary year to year; treat as a guide, not a script.

100% virtual; a mix of one-on-one (~47%) and group (~53%) interviews, averaging ~3 interviews of ~35 minutes; open-file. Applicants report a low-stress, welcoming experience (rated in the top ~19% on SDN).

Questions applicants report

Introduce yourself and tell us the motivation behind your desire to pursue medicine.
Why osteopathic medicine and why DMU?
Describe a time you empathized with someone.
Name a time when you failed and how you reacted.
What is one thing you would change in the health-care industry today?
How do you manage your time and how do you deal with stress?

Key facts

Degree: DO
Type: Private
Location: Iowa
Region: Midwest
Interview format: Not reported
Preclinical grading: Not reported
Licensing exam: COMLEX-USA (many students also take USMLE)
Oldest MCAT accepted: January 1, 2024
International applicants: Not considered
DACA applicants: Not considered
Early Decision: Not 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 DMU?

Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine has a median MCAT of 506 (typical accepted range about 503–509). At or above the median is most competitive; below the 25th percentile (503) is a reach without other strengths.

What GPA does DMU require?

The median accepted GPA is about 3.65 (roughly 3.47–3.77). There's no hard cutoff, but below the median you'll want to be strong elsewhere.

What are the prerequisites for DMU?

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 DMU hard to get into?

Its acceptance rate is approximately 10.9% — less selective by the numbers for US DO programs.

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