Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM), founded in 1969, is the first osteopathic college established within a major public research university in the United States. Located at MSU's East Lansing campus, MSUCOM benefits from the full breadth of a Big Ten research university, with access to MSU's biomedical sciences, public health, and engineering faculties. The school has a strong rural medicine pipeline and serves Michigan's diverse communities through a distributed clinical training model.
What makes it different
MSUCOM is unique as a DO school within a major public research university, offering unparalleled access to Big Ten research resources, interprofessional health education, and MSU's faculty expertise. The distributed clinical model trains students in communities across Michigan — Detroit, Grand Rapids, Flint, rural UP — creating physicians deeply embedded in their training communities. MSU's sports medicine presence is nationally recognized.
Course & teaching
Integrated curriculum. 4-year DO curriculum with OMM integrated throughout and strong emphasis on interprofessional education within MSU's broader health sciences enterprise. MSUCOM uses a distributed clinical training model — students are placed in community-based training programs across Michigan rather than concentrated at a single academic medical center, reflecting the mission to train physicians who practice where they trained.
Research strengths
MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) has notable research strength in Osteopathic manipulative medicine, Rural and community health, Sports medicine, Health disparities, Biomedical research.
Interview
MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) interviews via Traditional interview. Michigan State University COM (MSUCOM) conducts traditional faculty interviews at its East Lansing campus. The interview day includes a campus tour, OMM laboratory visit, program overview, and one-on-one interview with a faculty member. Questions focus on Michigan and community health commitment, osteopathic philosophy, and the applicant's ability to thrive in a research-intensive public university environment. MSUCOM interviewers probe genuine dedication to primary care and serving Michigan's underserved communities.
Intake
Approximately 281 students per year across three sites.
At a glance
Founded in 1969, based in East Lansing, MI. Programmes offered: Primary Care, Rural Medicine, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Family Medicine, Sports Medicine.
