Location: Indianapolis, IN

Mission Statement

The Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MU-COM) is a Catholic medical institution built on the inspired vision and values of our Franciscan heritage, and dedicated to preparing osteopathic physicians who are committed to the complete healing of individuals’ bodies, minds, and spirits. This institution is committed to serving the people of Indiana and to developing osteopathic physicians through research, service, and teaching.

In studying the osteopathic profession, Marian University’s leadership recognized very early that there would be substantial congruence between these Franciscan values and the tenets of osteopathic medicine, which were reaffirmed by the American Osteopathic Association’s House of Delegates in July 2008:

1. The body is a unit; the person is a unit of body, mind, and spirit.
2. The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance.
3. Structure and function are reciprocally interrelated.
4. Rational treatment is based upon an understanding of the basic principles of body unity, self-regulation, and the interrelationship of structure and function.

College Description

Located on 114 wooded acres six miles from downtown Indianapolis, Marian University is a Catholic University dedicated to excellent teaching and learning in the Franciscan and liberal arts traditions, with degree programs in the arts, sciences, business, education, osteopathic medicine and nursing.  

The Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg, Indiana, continue to be Marian University’s sponsor. Our four core Franciscan values, illuminated by prayer, are:

• Dignity of the individual
• Peace and justice
• Reconciliation
• Responsible stewardship

On March 5, 2010, the Board of Trustees approved the development of the Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine. On July 24, 2010, the Marian University Bylaws were amended by the Board of Trustees to include the Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine. MU-COM’s inaugural class started in August 2013.

Campus setting:
Urban. Indianapolis, IN; 16th largest city in the United States.

Year founded: 2010

Type: Private, non-profit

Accreditation:
Based on a Comprehensive Survey (Site) Evaluation completed in February 2017, at its April 2017 meeting the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), which is authorized to accredit colleges of osteopathic medicine by the U.S. Department of Education, granted accreditation to the Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MU-COM).

Institutional affiliation:

• Marian University

Facilities:

The Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine is housed with the Alan and Sue Leighton School of Nursing in the Michael A. Evans Center for Health Sciences. The new 140,000 square foot structure is located on the southeast corner of the Marian University campus. This facility is a signature building on campus, supportive of a premier DO educational curriculum, outfitted with cutting-edge technology and showcasing environmental sustainability within the context of the historic campus.

Student residence options:
The Overlook at Riverdale is the newest housing option for Marian University medical and graduate students. The Overlook is an on-campus apartment building that saves residents time and money while living in new apartment accommodations. Most importantly, residents of The Overlook live among classmates and interact in an academic environment, while enjoying the privacy and autonomy of a private apartment.

2019-2020 Enrollment

• Total medical school enrollment: 634
• Total male: 319
• Total female: 313
• First-year enrollment: 156
• First-year male: 73
• First-year female: 82
• First-year in-state: 89
• First-year out-of-state: 67
• Total enrollment affiliate institutions: 3,553

MU-COM’s goal is to create a quality professional education program emphasizing osteopathic training in primary care. MU-COM designed a curriculum that promotes and measures student competencies with an emphasis on osteopathic clinical services and public service activities provided to diverse populations of individuals and cultures, including the underprivileged and medically underserved. The MU-COM curriculum is modeled after recommendations contained in the Carnegie Report 2010. Courses are system-based, with foundational clinical cases and group study. Students are exposed to clinical experiences in years one and two. The curriculum is competency based with student assessment of learning and skills. Biomedical science has a clinical basis. MU-COM faculty use the 2011 National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiner (NBOME)’s Fundamental Osteopathic Medical Competencies and critical elements in creating teaching materials. There are seven areas that make up the CORE content of the third year—family medicine, internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics, pediatrics, emergency medicine, and psychiatry. Family medicine, emergency medicine, and internal medicine are eight weeks and all the others are four-week rotations. Family medicine and emergency medicine have been split into a third– and a fourth–year rotation. Radiology has been included as a skill set, along with ortho/sports medicine. In the fourth year, there are some required rotations that emphasize the primary care aspects of the curriculum. The rotations expose students to the practice of medicine outside of an urban setting. There are required rotations in rural medicine and critical access hospitals which will be linked for a total of eight weeks, and the fourth–year component to family medicine and emergency medicine as well as a Public Health rotation. For the remainder of the fourth year the student has been given the opportunity to work with faculty to develop his/her own interests with an eye toward doing interview rotations with residency programs. 

None Offered

Biomedical Sciences Master’s degree
For medical/professional school

Masters of Science in Biomedical Sciences
For industry research

Special Programs

None Offered

Admissions Process

Screened applicants who meet minimum admissions criteria for GPA and MCAT. An invitation to complete a supplemental application will not made without an official MCAT score. MU-COM uses a traditional interview format.

Application Information

• Primary application service: AACOMAS
• Earliest application submission date: 5/5/2020
• Primary application deadline: 02/01/2021
• Supplemental application deadline: 03/05/2021
• Submission timing for best consideration:
  Apply early for maximum competitiveness.

First-Year Class Matriculants’ Selection Factors:

Marian University does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin, age, or disability in the recruiting and selection of students for admission.

MU-COM uses a holistic admissions process, seeking to admit students who have characteristics and interests that align with our mission. There are a number of factors influencing admissions decisions including MCAT scores, science GPA, overall GPA, personal accomplishments, future career interests, and other factors which play a role in the selection process.

MU-COM attracts high quality students each year. Each admitted COM student reflects the diversity of accomplishments, talents, interests and backgrounds valued by MU-COM. They also demonstrate academic excellence. A bachelor’s degree and the MCAT are required for admission. The Admissions Committee evaluates applicants on a number of criteria, ranging from academic records and test scores to commitment toward osteopathic medicine and service.

International students (non-U.S. citizens or temporary residents) considered: Yes

MU-COM has attracted students from all over the world and will continue to enroll students from outside the United States. International applicants must meet particular conditions for admittance and enrollment including transcript evaluation, English language requirements, and financial resources documentation for MU-COM. Undergraduate course work taken at a foreign institution must be evaluated for United States institution equivalence.Foreign course work must be evaluated by any one of several services designated by AACOMAS for this purpose.

MCAT

• Oldest MCAT considered: January 2018
• Accept September 2020 MCAT scores: Yes
• Accept January 2021 MCAT scores: No

Accepted Sources for Letters of Recommendation

• AACOMAS
• Interfolio

Supplemental Application

• Supplemental application required? Yes
• Earliest supplemental application submission date: 6/25/2020
• Supplemental application deadline: 3/5/2021
• Supplemental application requirements:
  The supplemental application requires a fee of $100. MU-COM does accept fee waivers for the supplemental application if the applicant qualified for an AACOMAS application fee waiver.
• Fee waiver available: Yes
• Waiver conditions:
  If granted a fee waiver via AACOM, MU-COM will honor the waiver for the supplemental application. Applicants will upload a .pdf of their AACOM fee waiver to the supplemental application.
• Supplemental application sent to the following prospective students:
  Screened applicants: An MCAT score of 494 or higher and a 3.1 cumulative CPA or higher.
• Supplemental application fee: $100, non-refundable

Interview Format

MU-COM uses a rolling admissions cycle and schedules applicant interviews September through April of the application year. Applicants are invited to campus for a half-day. The schedule includes multiple one-on-one interviews with basic science faculty, clinical faculty, administrators, or community physicians.

Applicants will receive information about the curriculum, admission procedures, financial aid resources, research opportunities, and clinical rotation sites affiliated with MU-COM. Applicants also be given a tour of the medical school building by a current MU-COM student. 

Science Courses

Required:

• Biology/Zoology, 8 semester hours with lab
• Organic Chemistry, 8 semester hours with lab
• Inorganic Chemistry, 8 semester hours with lab
• Physics, 8 semester hours
• Biochemistry, 3 semester hours

Recommended:

• Genetics
• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Immunology
• Histology

Non-Science Courses

Required:

• College English, 6 semester hours
• Behavioral Sciences, 6 semester hours
• Medical Terminology

Applicants will be requested to submit necessary matriculation documents, including a deposit, according to the following AACOMAS traffic guideline schedule:

• Those accepted prior to November 15 will have until December 14
• Those accepted between November 15 and January 14 will have 30 days
• Those accepted between January 15 and May 14 will have 14 days
• Those accepted after May 15 may be asked for an immediate deposit
• After May 15 of the year of matriculation, each medical college may implement college-specific procedures for accepted students who hold one or more seats at other medical colleges.
• Maximum time for applicant to accept offer: AACOMAS traffic guidelines.
• Earliest acceptance date: 9/08/2020
• Latest acceptance date: 8/20/2021
• Deferred entrance requests considered: Yes
  On a case-by-case basis
• Orientation / start date for first-year students: 8/17/2021

Early Decision Program

• Early Decision Program (EDP) offered: Yes
• EDP available for: Residents
• EDP application due date: 7/15/2020
• EDP applications submitted to: AACOMAS
• EDP supplemental materials due: 8/15/2020
• Date EDP applicants notified: 9/8/2020

Tuition and Fees

• 2019-20 annual resident tuition: $50,900
• 2019-20 annual non-resident tuition: $50,900
• 2019-20 annual resident fees: $1,500
• 2019-20 annual non-resident fees: $1,500
• 2019-20 annual health insurance fee: $3,476
• Fees include:
  • Student Services
  • Student Activities
  • Technology (not computer)
  • Health Service
• Estimated annual room, board, books and living costs: $22,466
• Average 2018 graduate indebtedness: $232,414

Deposit

• Amount of deposit to hold place in class: $250, non-refundable
• Additional deposit amount: $750 by May 1
• Deposit applied to tuition: Yes

Financial Aid

• Financial Aid Website
• Enrolled students with federal financial aid: 76%
• Scholarships: Yes
• Average scholarship/grant: $10,515
  

Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine – MU-COM

Address:
3200 Cold Spring Road
Indianapolis, IN 46222

Main Phone: (317) 955-6183

Admissions office

Email: COMadmissions@marian.edu
Phone: (317) 955-6187