Entrance Requirements
Admission requirements for the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine include the successful completion of specified coursework at a prescribed academic standard. Students must have all prerequisite courses completed with a “C” or better prior to matriculation. Additional courses in the basic sciences are strongly recommended. These include biochemistry, pharmacology, immunology, histology, anatomy, and physiology.
In addition to scholarship, applications for admission are also evaluated on the student’s
In addition to scholarship, applications for admission are also evaluated on the student’s motivation for osteopathic medicine, letters of recommendation, and dedication to the humane delivery of quality medical care. A state-assisted program, Heritage College accepts non-residents, but gives preference to Ohio residents. Detailed residency requirements are available by visiting https://www.ohio.edu/medicine/med-admissions/financing/attendance-cost/state-residency. The annual entering class size is approximately 250 new students.
Health and Technical Standards for Admission and Graduation can be reviewed at www.ohio.edu/medicine/med-admissions/apply/standards.
The following list describes the minimum qualifications required to be considered for admission. It should be noted that meeting these requirements does not ensure admission. Admission decisions are made on a competitive basis, relative to other applicants.
- A baccalaureate degree or exemplary performance in at least 90 semester hours of coursework from a regionally accredited U.S. (United States) institution
- U.S. citizenship or a permanent visa
- A full academic year with a grade of C or better (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) in each of the following:
English — 6 semester or 9 quarter hours,
Biology/Zoology — 8 semester or 12 quarter hours,
General Chemistry — 8 semester or 12 quarter hours,
Physics — 8 semester or 12 quarter hours,
Organic Chemistry — 8 semester or 12 quarter hours
Behavioral sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology, or anthropology) — 6 semester or 9 quarter hours.
- For fall 2025 entry, only MCAT tests taken in 2022, 2023, and 2024 will be considered valid.
- Letters of recommendation from either a premedical committee OR two letters from natural science faculty who taught you in class.
- The ability to meet Health and Technical Standards.
- Although not a requirement, an additional letter from a D.O. or other health care professional who can speak about your suitability for osteopathic medicine is strongly encouraged.
Admission Process
Begin the application process
To apply to the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, you must begin by completing the application found at the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Services (AACOMAS) site. The application deadline for the entering class of 2025 is Feb. 1, 2025.
Apply
Primary Application
The medical school application process consists of two parts, the primary and the secondary applications.
To complete the primary application process, you must arrange to have official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended, and official MCAT scores sent directly to AACOMAS. DO NOT send this information to Heritage College. Remember to include course information on all postsecondary work you have completed. Even if you only took one course from an institution, or completed a course under College Credit Plus, you must record it on the application and arrange to have a transcript sent to AACOMAS. To submit MCAT scores you must return to your MCAT portal and request for your results to be electronically submitted to AACOMAS. Please note that MCAT scores more than three years old at the time of enrollment are considered invalid. For example, if you are applying for the entering class of 2025, valid MCAT scores would include anything from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2025. Please note that a January 2025 MCAT score will only be considered if another score from a valid test date range is on file.
It generally takes AACOMAS two to four weeks to process your application once they have your official transcripts and MCAT scores. Missing information will delay the processing of your application. You can check the status of your AACOMAS application online any time after submission.
CHECK THE STATUS OF YOUR AACOMAS APPLICATION
The Office of Admissions will use the email address you provide on the AACOMAS application for all correspondence. Please remember to set your email permissions to accept correspondence from ohio.edu addresses. Ensure that your email address appears on the primary application correctly and that you continue monitoring your account for important messages from Heritage College.
Secondary Application
The Heritage College will receive your primary application electronically from AACOMAS and determine if you are eligible to receive a secondary application. All Ohio residents will receive a secondary application. All other applicants will receive a secondary application if they have a minimum 490 MCAT and a 2.75 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 qualified, 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. If you are notified that stronger security is required when attempting to log in to your secondary application portal, please make sure you are running a modern operating system with an updated browser (e.g., Chrome version 38 or higher, Firefox 27 or higher, Safari 7 or higher, Microsoft Edge).
To be considered for a place in the entering class of 2025, all secondary application materials must be received by March 15, 2025.
The secondary application allows applicants to designate preferences for our Athens, Cleveland, and Dublin campuses. A separate essay is required for those ranking the Dublin and Cleveland campuses. Ranking all three campuses does not improve your chances of an interview or admission.
If you are selected to receive a secondary application, you will need to do the following:
- We require, at minimum, either a letter of recommendation from a premedical/health profession advising committee OR two letters from natural science faculty. A committee letter is preferred, but if your institution does not have a committee, you must submit two letters of recommendation from natural science faculty who taught you in class for a grade. Examples of natural science courses include biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy, physiology, genetics, etc. Social sciences DO NOT count toward this requirement (i.e. sociology, psychology, etc.).
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OU-HCOM recognizes that non-traditional applicants who have been out of the classroom for many years may experience difficulties in securing letters of recommendation from natural science faculty. If you feel you are unable to obtain these faculty letters, we encourage you to reach out to the Office of Admissions at ou-hcom@ohio.edu to discuss the potential of submitting other letters in exchange.
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Although not a requirement, an additional letter from a D.O. or other health care professional who can speak about your suitability for osteopathic medicine is strongly encouraged.
- Pay a non-refundable $60 application fee. Those who received an AACOMAS application fee waiver will also receive a secondary application fee waiver.
- Non-Ohio residents will need to sign a contract of admission
Once all the secondary application materials have been received by the Office of Admissions, your file will be considered complete and will be eligible for further committee review.
Transfer and International Applicants
Transfer Applicants from other Osteopathic Programs
Heritage College will consider transfer applications from students at other accredited U.S. colleges of osteopathic medicine after completion of their second year and before the start of their third year and only if capacity exists in our clinical campus system, based on the discretion of the associate dean for clinical education.
Transfer applicants must provide the following information in time to allow appropriate committee review proceeding the Heritage College term of intended enrollment:
- A completed secondary application with the respective application fee
- Official copies of all postsecondary school or college transcripts
- Official copy of the current osteopathic school transcript
- A letter from the dean of the current college of medicine verifying good academic standing
- Proof of successful completion of COMLEX Level 1
- An essay regarding the candidate rationale for a transfer
- A copy of the course catalog from their initial osteopathic medical school
- Two letters of recommendation from current osteopathic medical school faculty
- All MCAT scores
Transfer candidates must appear on the Athens campus for an interview and, to assess the candidate’s clinical acumen, a prospective transfer student demonstrate proficiency in clinical examination and osteopathic manipulative medicine skills prior to any final admission decision.
Transfer Applicants from other Accredited Domestic or Foreign Medical Schools
Potential transfer applicants from other accredited domestic or foreign medical schools must apply through standard AACOMAS procedures for admission as year one students. If accepted, they will be required to complete four years of medical study at this institution.
View our Transfer Policy https://www.ohio.edu/medicine/med-admissions/apply/applicants.
International Applicants
Applicants to Heritage College must be either U.S. citizens or permanent residents and hold a degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution.
Tuition and Living Expenses
Attending the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, although much less costly than a private medical school education, represents a major financial commitment. Ohio University endeavors to keep the cost of a medical education as low as possible, but changing economic factors affect both living expenses and tuition fees. Therefore, tuition is subject to change by action of the Board of Trustees prior to any academic term.
For the most up-to-date information on tuition and living expenses, visit the Heritage College web site at www.ohio.edu/medicine/med-admissions/financing.
There is no difference in tuition or fees between students attending the Athens, Cleveland, or Dublin campus, however, living expenses will vary based on location.
Ohio University is committed to our veterans and military affiliated students. We fully comply with the Veterans Benefits Transition Act of 2018 and no adverse actions (late fees, denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) will be taken against students who receive Veterans Educational Benefits due to late payments by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Furthermore, a covered individual will not be required to borrow additional funds because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement of a payment to be provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.*
*Text added on 9/27/23 due to a requirement from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Financial Aid
One of the primary purposes of Heritage College’s Office of Student Affairs is to provide supplemental financial aid assistance to admitted students demonstrating need. The primary responsibility for meeting educational costs rests with the student and his or her family. The Office of Student Affairs will make every attempt to assist each student financially, but because funding levels are limited, every need cannot be met. Most students will have to secure student loans to finance their medical education.
Information regarding available financial aid eligibility and the application process is detailed at the Heritage College web site at https://www.ohio.edu/medicine/med-admissions/financing.
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