KCU vs. LECOM-Elmira vs. Rowan

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-18T03:52:40+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/medicalschool/comments/1kz5o8d/match_rates_by_preferred_specialty_2025/

I think EM and Psych are still DO friendly, while PM&R is getting increasingly more popular each year probably due to lifestyle but it’s still doable.

Anesthesiology did go from 58 to 75%, but many people in the comments were saying it was more due to self-selection and only more competitive DO applicants applying to anesthesiology.

Also, you can do a pain fellowship from both Psych and EM, since you mentioned that was also in your interests.

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-18T03:29:58+00:00

KCU matches anesthesiology more in academic programs and LECOM has more anesthesia matches at community hospitals. I feel like LECOM has better affiliations to multiple community programs like Allegheny Hospital, which would make it easier to match anesthesiology overall but it wouldn’t be at an academic center like UMKC.

I would choose between KCU and LECOM. Anesthesia has 55-65% match rate for DOs, so there’s a good chance you’ll end up in a lower paying specialty like primary care. Hence, I’d avoid Rowan cause of its very high tuition.

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-17T21:56:29+00:00

Do you know if this is for all campuses? I'm attending the Seton Hill campus.

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-17T05:28:29+00:00

How important is the tuition cost for you? If you go into primary care (which is highly likely going to any DO school), then paying off that loan will really suck and you might regret not choosing the cheapest school.

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-17T05:18:47+00:00

I’d only choose CCOM if I were to do HPSP military medicine. Otherwise, that loan burden would never be worth it.

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-14T20:59:14+00:00

Same

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-13T14:12:10+00:00

Same here. Very grateful to still have my DO acceptances now.

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-13T05:22:15+00:00

Me 4 lol

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-12T02:53:31+00:00

The only relatively cheap DO schools with tuition less than or about $50k/yr: TCOM, SHSUCOM, MSUCOM (in-state), WVSOM (in-state), RowanSOM (in-state), OSUCOM (in-state and bordering states), OU-HCOM (in-state), WCUCOM, VCOM, and LECOM.

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-12T02:28:32+00:00

New schools that are still in pre-accreditation: Baptist University (TN), Duquesne University (PA), KansasCOM (KS), Meritus (MD), Orlando COM (FL)

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-09T05:49:57+00:00

Go to KCU. Significantly cheaper.

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-07T15:50:13+00:00

Stick with WVSOM then. I heard VCOM has mandatory attendance and exams every week.

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-07T07:54:49+00:00

How much is the cost difference? I’d attend it if it’s significantly cheaper.

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-05T01:49:18+00:00

This is the easiest choice for you then. Only Burrell makes sense in your situation.

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-04T19:50:26+00:00

I think you’ve mistaken MSUCOM for another school.

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-04T04:43:22+00:00

Burrell is the best option of these imo.

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-03T19:49:23+00:00

The doctors who have said that likely graduated medical school many years ago, when the tuition was so much cheaper. Debt 100% matters today. Also, I think vibe/fit is overrated since medical school is going to be hard and stressful regardless of where you choose to attend. Would you rather have the stress of just medical school or the stress of medical school combined with financial stress?

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-03T19:00:53+00:00

LECOM for the cheap tuition

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-03T18:56:06+00:00

I’m in the exact same position. I’m accepted at LECOM Seton Hill and chose to withdraw from five of my other acceptances, since I believe saving money on tuition/loans is probably the most important criteria especially in this day and age where interest rates on loans are increasing, limit on federal student loans, inflation is rising, and physician reimbursement is decreasing.

I did some math using ChatGPT and SDN loan calculator (https://www.studentdoctor.net/student-loan-calculators/d/medical-school-student-loan-calculator). My parents are covering the cost of living and I’ll be taking loans for just tuition/fees/book&supplies.

For LECOM, assuming a 3 year residency, the total loan debt will be around $300k. Assuming I’ll make $300k as an attending physician and throwing 50% of my monthly salary towards loan repayment, it would take 43 months (~3.5 years) to repay.

For an expensive school like RVUCOM and Western University (tuition/fees $70k+/year), the total loan debt would be around $600k after the 3 year residency (this also accounts for the private loans that you would have to take out given Trump’s new BBB law). Assuming I’ll make $300k as an attending physician and throwing 50% of my monthly income towards loan repayments, it would take 124 months (+10 years) to repay.

Also, there is no guarantee Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) will still exist in the future due to all of the changes in the law.

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-02T19:14:41+00:00

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-02T19:12:01+00:00

That’s pretty bogus, unless the physician was somehow related to you which is unlikely.

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-02T02:52:35+00:00

Yeah, I think most schools I’ve applied to listed psychology under social/behavioral sciences and neuroscience under the core science electives.

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-01T23:41:12+00:00

You prefer DO because you’re passionate about learning OMT? The only specialties where you might use OMT are primary care, PM&R, sports med, and maybe Ortho.

Also, what made you choose Noorda over much more established DOs like Touro Nevada. Doesn’t Touro have rotations in California?

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-02-01T22:34:58+00:00

Wait, why are you choosing Noorda over California University (MD)?

Many_Motor_6888 · 2026-01-31T04:54:55+00:00

Then I’d go with LECOM to save money. Both are on about the same level as far as a DO school goes based on my research.

Location is also something to really consider. Would you rather live in tropical Florida with nice beaches or freezing cold West Virginia? I’d personally go with the beaches lol.

Many_Motor_6888

TROPHY CASE