For the second consecutive year, the number of applications has increased, represented by a 5.8% growth between 2003 and 2004 (Figure 1). Even with this slight increase in the number of applicants for 2004, however, the overall numbers continue to be considerably lower than the high point in 1997 (10,764). Since 1999 (8396), the total number of applicants has decreased by 14% (Table 1). 

After its peak in 1997, the number of underrepresented minority applicants has steadily decreased. In 1998, 936 individuals of underrepresented minorities applied to the 19 colleges of osteopathic medicine, and that number dropped further in 1999 to 790 before rebounding to 829 in 2000. The decline in underrepresented minority applicants continued through 2001 and 2002 to 693 and 684, respectively; however, this number rebounded again to 732 in 2003 and 817 in 2004. Between 1999 and 2004, the number of underrepresented minority applicants declined by just 3%, but the number of underrepresented minority applicants increased by 11.6% between 2003 and 2004. 

In the 2003–2004 academic year, the five colleges with the most applications received were the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM); New York College of Osteopathic Medicine of New York Institute of Technology (NYCOM); Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (MWU/CCOM); A. T. Still University of Health Sciences/Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU/KCOM); and Des Moines University–College of Osteopathic Medicine (DMU-COM). These five schools—as well as most of the other 15 colleges of osteopathic medicine—had an increase in the number of applications for the 2003–2004 academic year. Only three colleges of osteopathic medicine had a decrease in the number of applications for the 2003 entering classes (Table 2). 

First-year enrollment continues to increase. The first-year enrollment in the 2003–2004 academic year was 3308, an increase of 229 students (Figure 2). 

The percentage of ethnic minority students rose again in 2002–2003. Ethnic minorities (Black, Hispanic, and Native American students) represent 7.8% and Asian/Pacific Islander students represent 15.4% of the total enrollment in the 2003–2004 academic year (Table 3). 

The number of female osteopathic medical students enrolled at the colleges of osteopathic medicine continues to increase. For the 2003–2004 academic year, 46.9% of all students were female. The total number of women enrolled in 2003–2004 was 5557 (Table 4). 

For the first time, more than half of all first-year osteopathic medical students seek medical education outside their home state. Of the 3308 first-year students enrolled at the 20 colleges of osteopathic medicine during the 2003–2004 academic year, 47.8% were residents of the state in which the college of osteopathic medicine is located and 51.5% were nonresidents. During the 2002–2003 academic year, 1590 (51.6%) of the first-year students were from the state in which the college of osteopathic medicine is located. 

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey–School of Osteopathic Medicine (UMDNJ-SOM) and the University of North Texas Health Science Center of Fort Worth—Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNTHSC/TCOM) had the highest percentages (97.9% and 96.1%, respectively) of in-state students for the 2003–2004 academic year. Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences–College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCUMB-COM) and the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM) had the highest percentage of out-of-state students for the 2003–2004 academic year, 86.6% and 83.1%, respectively (Table 5). Because of special funding relationships with the states, public colleges generally admit a much higher proportion of state residents than do private schools. 

Freshmen entering the 2003–2004 academic year had a mean grade point average (GPA) of 3.45, which is slightly higher than the mean GPA of the 2002–2003 academic year (3.43). Mean MCAT scores for these freshman were as follows: biological sciences, 8.51; physical sciences, 7.77; and verbal reasoning, 8.07. 

The 20 colleges of osteopathic medicine had 12,726 faculty members in 2003–2004, including full-time, part-time, and volunteer faculty. Most full-time and part-time faculty serving the colleges of osteopathic medicine (86%) teach clinical sciences, and the remainder teaches preclinical sciences (5.1%). 

In the 2003–2004 academic year, approximately 80.6% of the faculty at the 20 colleges of osteopathic medicine were volunteer faculty. The largest percentage of full-time and part-time academicians teach general practice/family practice (Table 6). 

For the academic year beginning in 2004–2005, tuition is expected to average $16,481 for in-state residents in public schools and $30,192 in private schools. For out-of-state residents, tuition averages $32,610 in public schools and $31,101 in private schools (Table 7). 

The 20 colleges of osteopathic medicine reported total revenue of $809,862,891 in FY 2003, which constitutes a 3.9% increase from 2002 ($778,900,000). As in the past, tuition contributes substantially more to total revenues in the private schools than it does in the public schools, which draw more heavily from state subsidies. 

Students benefit from state government funding, which continues to play an important role in the fiscal health of osteopathic medical education. The Armed Forces also continues to be a significant source of funds to students and their schools through the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program. 

Total expenditures in FY 2003 were approximately $743,903,417, an increase of 3.2% from FY 2002 ($720,400,000). Instruction continues to account for the largest portion of expenditures.