Rowan University’s Medical Schools

by

Rowan University stands out among U.S. medical education institutions because it offers both an MD (allopathic) and a DO (osteopathic) medical degree under its umbrella. The two schools are:

  • Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU) — grants the MD
  • Rowan‑Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine (Rowan‑Virtua SOM) — grants the DO

This dual pathway offers prospective medical students options depending on their learning style, career goals, and preferences. In this article, we’ll compare and contrast the two programs, explore admissions criteria, curriculum differences, outcomes (like residency match), as well as advantages and challenges. This will help you decide which might be the better fit.

Overview: MD vs DO

Before delving into specifics, some background:

  • MD (Doctor of Medicine): Allopathic medical degree. Focus tends to be more “standardized,” emphasizing diagnosis and treatment using conventional western medicine.
  • DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine): Incorporates all the standard medical training, but also emphasizes a holistic approach. DO students often learn osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), and the philosophy includes treating the whole patient (body, mind, spirit). DO programs tend to have more emphasis on primary care, rural medicine, and sometimes serve underserved populations.

At Rowan, both schools are well‑established and offer strong curricula, faculty mentorship, and clinical experience. But they differ in certain criteria, strengths, and structure.

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (MD Program)

Key Facts & Mission

  • Launched in 2012, in partnership between Rowan University and Cooper University Health Care. CMSRU was the first new MD‑granting medical school in New Jersey in many decades. Rowan University+2cooperhealth.edu+2
  • Mission: to integrate basic science, clinical early experience, teamwork, community engagement, and patient care from early years. cmsru.rowan.edu

Curriculum & Special Tracks

  • Curriculum Phases:
    • Phase I (“Foundation & Integration”): First two years focused on basic sciences and integrating clinical relevance early. cmsru.rowan.edu
    • Phase II (“Application, Exploration & Advancement”): Years 3 & 4, clinical rotations, advanced topics, ethical, social components. cmsru.rowan.edu
  • Special Tracks & Programs:
    1. Accelerated Three‑Year Primary Care Track (PC3): For students interested in Family Medicine, Primary Care Internal Medicine, or Pediatrics. This track allows students to complete MD in three years and proceed to residency. Particularly attractive for those committed to primary care and want a quicker path. cmsru.rowan.edu
    2. MD/MBA Joint Program: Combined degree with the William G. Rohrer College of Business at Rowan. Students first gain admission to CMSRU MD program, then separately into MBA. The joint degree can be completed in ~5 years. Good for students interested in leadership, administrative, or business roles in health care. cmsru.rowan.edu
    3. MD/PhD in Biomedical Engineering (BME): For those who want research + medicine. You undergo both MD and PhD admissions. cmsru.rowan.edu

Admissions, Requirements & Selectivity

  • Like many MD schools, CMSRU has competitive admissions. Key factors include undergraduate GPA, MCAT, letters of recommendation, and extracurriculars. Though exact numbers vary, performance in prior years has been strong relative to national averages. (Specific stats are less publicly specified for CMSRU compared to the DO program, but match rates are good.) cooperhealth.edu+1
  • Supports programs for disadvantaged or underrepresented students and offers summer/pre‑med pipeline opportunities. cmsru.rowan.edu+1

Outcomes & Match Rate

  • The MD program at CMSRU has a very strong residency match record. For example, the Class of 2025 had 111 students, and achieved a 100% Match rate in residency placements. today.rowan.edu
  • Similarly, earlier classes such as 2023 had 100% match rate, surpassing national averages (~93‑94%) for U.S. MD seniors. today.rowan.edu+1
  • Graduates match into a broad set of specialties: primary care (internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics), surgical fields, emergency medicine, anesthesiology, radiology, OB‑GYN, psychiatry, and more. Some are placed in residencies locally (New Jersey) while others match in prestigious programs around the country. today.rowan.edu+2Cooper University Health Care+2

Rowan‑Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine (DO Program)

Key Facts & Mission

  • Rowan‑Virtua SOM is New Jersey’s only osteopathic medical school. som.rowan.edu
  • It has two campuses: Stratford and Sewell. Students can select between different curriculum models (e.g. PBL vs SGL) depending on campus and preference. som.rowan.edu+1
  • Strong focus on primary care, holistic patient care, serving communities, and integrating research as part of training. Offers mentorship, hands‑on clinical exposure, and priority access to clinical rotations/residencies through Virtua Health system. som.rowan.edu+1

Curriculum & Learning Models

  • Curriculum Options:
    • PBL (Problem‑Based Learning): Emphasizes student‑led problem solving, case studies, and small group learning. som.rowan.edu+1
    • SGL (Something like Scholarly or Structured Group Learning) at the Stratford campus, only available there. Students choose curriculum model and campus preferences, though placement depends on availability. som.rowan.edu
  • Coursework covers the pre‑clinical years (basic sciences, osteopathic manipulative medicine) followed by clinical clerkships. Students receive training in multiple clinical environments, often with exposure to underserved populations. som.rowan.edu+1

Admissions, Requirements & Criteria

  • Minimum requirements:
    • Bachelor’s degree (or nearing completion) from accredited institution. som.rowan.edu+1
    • Science GPA preferred ~3.40+; MCAT score preferred 500+; specific BBFL subscore (Biological & Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems) around 128+ for some classes. som.rowan.edu+1
    • Letters of recommendation (at least from science faculty) + supplemental application after AACOMAS primary. som.rowan.edu+1
  • Other admissions routes:
    • Early Decision Program (EDP) for highly qualified applicants who commit to Rowan‑Virtua SOM as first choice. Requirements are a bit higher (e.g. MCAT ~503+, etc.). som.rowan.edu+1
    • Transfer admissions are possible from accredited osteopathic medical schools under certain conditions. som.rowan.edu

Outcomes & Match Rate

  • Rowan‑Virtua SOM also reports strong outcomes. For example, in 2024, its Match Day results showed high percentages of its graduates matching into residency, with more than 50% entering primary care and many staying in New Jersey for residency. today.rowan.edu
  • The DO program also states 100% residency placement for its students. som.rowan.edu

Strengths, Comparisons & What to Consider

Here are some points comparing the two, to help applicants decide:

AspectCMSRU (MD)Rowan‑Virtua SOM (DO)
Philosophy / ScopeAllopathic, tends to have broader choice in specialties, may emphasize disease/mechanism, hospital‑based careHolistic, emphasis on primary care, OMT, whole‑patient approach, preventive medicine
Curriculum flexibilityOffers special tracks (PC3, MD/MBA, MD/PhD) and strong clinical exposure earlyOffers different learning models (PBL, SGL), two campuses, primary care emphasis, strong community focus
Admissions selectivityCompetitive, MD tends to have stricter thresholds, but significant support systems in placeAlso competitive, especially for early decision, but sometimes offers more holistic evaluation; GPA/MCAT requirements clearly stated
Cost & DebtTuition tends to be high; financial aid available; cost of MD programs nationally tends to be greater than DO in many cases, depending on scholarships and locationSimilar considerations; in DO programs, students often consider in‑state vs out‑of‑state, and availability of scholarships or aid is vital
Residency outcomesExcellent match rates (100% in recent classes), broad specialty exposureAlso excellent; historically primary care strong; outcomes competitive; many graduates stay in region or state for residency

External Links & Resources

Here are authoritative sources to link to (for your site) to improve credibility, reader usefulness, and SEO:

Potential Drawbacks & Things to Ask

No program is perfect for everyone; here are some things prospective students might want to check or verify:

  • Cost & financial burden: MD and DO tuition plus living costs, and whether there are scholarships/grants. Out‑of‑state tuition often significantly higher.
  • Class size & facilities: Which campus (for DO), available clinical rotation sites, exposure to research, mentorship.
  • Learning style: If you’re more hands‑on, or prefer problem‑based learning, then Rowan‑Virtua’s PBL/SGL options might suit better. MD programs may have more traditional lecture + lab + clinical early.
  • Residency specialty in mind: If you aim for competitive specialties (e.g. surgery, dermatology, radiology), then check historical match data, how well MD vs DO students have done.
  • Support services: Wellness, mentoring, academic assistance, career advising (CMSRU has been recognized for its career advising system). Our Blogs and Newsletters

Conclusion

Both Cooper MD (CMSRU) and Rowan‑Virtua SOM DO represent strong, high‑quality pathways into medicine. They each have their own philosophies, strengths, and admissions criteria.

  • If you’re drawn to a faster path in certain tracks (e.g. MD, perhaps MD/MBA, or the 3‑year primary care PC3 track), or want the traditional allopathic route, Cooper might be your preference.
  • If you prefer a holistic approach, integrating OMT, more emphasis on primary care, flexibility in learning models, or the osteopathic philosophy, Rowan‑Virtua SOM would be very attractive.

The bottom line is: both programs have excellent outcomes (stellar match rates), strong resources, and are well‑regarded in New Jersey and beyond. Your decision should weigh your own learning style, career goals, financial situation, and preferences in medical philosophy.

Leave a Comment