Medical Schools in Idaho: Admissions, MCAT, GPA & Tuition

Idaho has one standalone medical school, the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) in Meridian. It offers the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree.

There is also an important MD pathway for Idaho residents through Idaho WWAMI, a partnership between the University of Idaho and the University of Washington School of Medicine. WWAMI students are University of Washington medical students, but they begin the Foundations Phase of their medical education in Moscow, Idaho. (University of Idaho)

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Medical School in Idaho at a Glance

Medical School	Location	Degree	Average GPA	Average MCAT	2026-27 Tuition
Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine	Meridian	DO	3.56	503.2	$70,090

ICOM's current entering-class academic averages are reported by AACOM, while the 2026-27 tuition figure comes directly from ICOM.

Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine

Location: Meridian, Idaho
Degree: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
Application: AACOMAS
Average undergraduate GPA: 3.56
Average MCAT: 503.2
2026-27 tuition: $70,090

ICOM is a four-year osteopathic medical school located in Meridian, near Boise.

The school was created in part to address physician shortages across Idaho and the Mountain West. Its mission emphasizes whole-person care and improving access to healthcare in Idaho and other underserved communities.

How Competitive Is ICOM?

AACOM currently reports a mean MCAT score of 503.2 and average cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.56 for ICOM.

ICOM itself recommends that competitive applicants have at least:

3.2 cumulative GPA
3.2 science GPA
An MCAT around the 50th percentile or higher

The school emphasizes that admissions are holistic, so these numbers do not determine admission by themselves.

ICOM also considers factors such as clinical experience, academic improvement, professionalism, understanding of osteopathic medicine, and commitment to rural or underserved communities.

How to Apply to ICOM

Applicants apply through AACOMAS, the centralized application service for U.S. osteopathic medical schools.

For the 2026-2027 application cycle, ICOM's application opened May 4, 2026 and closes April 30, 2027.

ICOM currently requires:

Appropriate prerequisite coursework
A bachelor's degree before matriculation
MCAT scores
At least one recommendation from a science faculty member or pre-health advisor
An interview if selected

A letter from a DO or MD physician is recommended but not required.

Applicants should still apply well before the final deadline when possible.

How Much Does ICOM Cost?

ICOM lists 2026-27 annual tuition at $70,090 for each of the four years of the DO program.

Students should budget beyond tuition. ICOM's estimated cost of attendance also includes expenses such as:

Fees
Books and equipment
Housing and food
Transportation
Insurance
Examination costs
Personal expenses

When comparing medical schools, consider the total four-year cost rather than tuition alone.

Does ICOM Emphasize Rural and Underserved Medicine?

Yes. This is one of the clearest features of ICOM's mission.

ICOM says it particularly values applicants who demonstrate interest in serving rural and underserved communities in Idaho and the Mountain West.

The school also reports that many graduates enter primary care specialties. For its Class of 2026, 40 graduates entered family medicine residency programs.

That emphasis makes ICOM particularly relevant for applicants interested in:

Family medicine
Primary care
Rural medicine
Community healthcare
Underserved populations

Students preparing for medical school can also build their understanding of different healthcare settings through meaningful clinical exposure. Go-Elective's Pre-Health and Pre-Med Internships provide supervised opportunities to learn within healthcare environments before medical school.

What Is Idaho WWAMI?

Idaho also has an MD medical education pathway through WWAMI, which stands for Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho.

Idaho WWAMI is a partnership between the University of Washington School of Medicine and the University of Idaho.

Students:

Apply directly to the University of Washington School of Medicine.
Must qualify as Idaho residents for the Idaho pathway.
Complete the 18-month Foundations Phase in Moscow, Idaho.
Complete clinical training throughout Idaho and the wider WWAMI region.
Graduate with an MD from the University of Washington School of Medicine.

The program currently admits 40 Idaho students per year.

So while the University of Washington School of Medicine is not an independent Idaho medical school, WWAMI gives Idaho residents an important in-state pathway to an MD.

Does WWAMI Focus on Rural Medicine?

Very strongly. The Idaho WWAMI program was specifically developed in part to address shortages of primary care physicians and improve healthcare access in rural communities.

Students can participate in rural training programs including:

TRUST: Targeted Rural Underserved Track
RUOP: Rural Underserved Opportunities Program
WRITE: WWAMI Rural Integrated Training Experience

WRITE, for example, provides selected third-year students with a 21 to 24-week longitudinal clinical experience in a rural community.

The University of Idaho reports that 51% of Idaho WWAMI graduates return to practice in Idaho.

ICOM vs Idaho WWAMI

These are two very different paths.

	ICOM	Idaho WWAMI
Degree	DO	MD
Location	Meridian	Begins in Moscow
Medical school	Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine	University of Washington School of Medicine
Application	AACOMAS	AMCAS/UWSOM
Idaho residency required	No	Yes for Idaho WWAMI seats
Rural focus	Strong	Strong

Applicants should choose based on their eligibility, academic profile, interest in osteopathic medicine, residency status, and preferred medical education model.

Final Thoughts

If you are researching medical schools in Idaho, there are two important pathways to know about.

ICOM in Meridian is Idaho's only standalone medical school and offers the DO degree. Its current average GPA is 3.56, average MCAT is 503.2, and 2026-27 tuition is $70,090.

Idaho WWAMI provides eligible Idaho residents with a pathway to earn an MD from the University of Washington School of Medicine while completing significant portions of their medical education in Idaho.

Both programs place significant emphasis on addressing physician shortages and improving healthcare access in rural and underserved communities.

FAQs About Medical Schools in Idaho

How many medical schools are in Idaho?

Idaho has one standalone medical school, the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine in Meridian. Idaho residents also have access to the University of Washington School of Medicine through the Idaho WWAMI medical education program.

Is there an MD medical school in Idaho?

There is no independent MD-granting medical school headquartered in Idaho. However, qualified Idaho residents can complete significant portions of the University of Washington School of Medicine MD program through Idaho WWAMI.

What GPA do you need for ICOM?

ICOM recommends a 3.2 or higher cumulative and science GPA for competitive applicants. The current entering-class average cumulative undergraduate GPA is approximately 3.56.

What MCAT score do you need for ICOM?

ICOM recommends an MCAT around the 50th percentile or above. AACOM currently reports a mean ICOM MCAT score of 503.2.

Does ICOM accept out-of-state applicants?

Yes. ICOM is not restricted to Idaho residents. Its admissions process considers applicants' overall qualifications and alignment with its mission, including interest in serving Idaho, the Mountain West, and underserved communities.

Do Idaho medical programs emphasize rural and underserved care?

Yes. Both ICOM and Idaho WWAMI explicitly emphasize rural and underserved healthcare. WWAMI also offers dedicated rural tracks including TRUST, RUOP, and WRITE.