Medical Schools in Montana: How to Get In (2026)
/Discover Montana medical school admissions strategies, acceptance rates, MCAT scores, GPA requirements, and application tips for in-state and out-of-state applicants.
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Part 1: Introduction
When you think of Montana, one of the first things that probably comes to mind is its expansive landscape full of mountains, valleys, and other landforms that earn it the nickname “Big Sky Country.” But for aspiring physicians researching Montana medical school requirements and acceptance rates, this state represents something equally significant: three distinct pathways to earning your medical degree.
In Montana, aspiring physicians have the choice between two schools of medicine. Rocky Vista University College of Medicine and Touro University College of Medicine offer students the opportunity to earn a Doctor of Osteopathic (DO) degree. In addition, through a partnership with the University of Washington’s WWAMI program, Montana State University students have the chance to earn an MD.
Whether you're drawn to practicing in underserved rural communities, excited about the state's commitment to training primary care physicians, or simply love the idea of studying medicine surrounded by Montana's natural beauty, understanding the distinct requirements and strategies for each program is essential to your success.
In this guide, we’ll take you on a journey exploring each of the med schools in Montana and how they stack up against each other, including rankings and admission statistics. We’ll also explore what the WWAMI program is like in Montana. Finally, we’ll look at tried and true admissions strategies you can use to get accepted into medical schools in Montana.
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Part 2: List of medical schools in Montana: Rankings & admissions statistics
Rocky Vista University College of Medicine
Located in Billings—the largest city in Montana—and boasting 138,000 square feet of space, the Montana campus for Rocky Vista University College of Medicine (RVU-MCOM) is home to over 200 medical school students! At this campus, students can earn either a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) or a Master of Medical Sciences degree. Currently (2024), RVU-MCOM is unranked in US News.
Touro University College of Medicine
Touro University College of Medicine is relatively new (est’d in 2023) and is located in Great Falls. There, students have the option to earn either an MS in Interdisciplinary Sciences or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), but this guide will focus on its DO program. At this time, Touro is unranked.
Montana State University
Students in Montana have a third option for embarking on their medical careers (and the only MD option) through the WWAMI program. We’ll dive deeper into this below, but for now it’s important to understand that this is a joint program between University of Washington and several other schools in different states, one of which is Montana State University.
| Montana Medical Schools | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Vista University College of Medicine* | Tier 4 (Primary Care) - 2025 |
Note from Rocky Vista: Preference will be given to candidates with a science and cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher. On average, candidates admitted to colleges of osteopathic medicine each of the past three years have GPAs greater than 3.6. |
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| Touro University College of Medicine* | Tier 2 (Primary Care) - 2025 |
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| Montana State University* |
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Part 3: Montana medical school profiles
Rocky Vista University College of Medicine (RVU-MCOM)
Rocky Vista University College of Medicine (RVU-MCOM) is a school that greatly emphasizes educating the physicians of tomorrow. Through innovative techniques and inspirational methods, RVU-MCOM aims to prepare students to use their knowledge throughout their communities. RVU-MCOM operates Montana's largest medical school campus in Billings, where over 200 students pursue their medical education in a state-of-the-art 138,000-square-foot facility.
Degree programs at Rocky Vista University College of Medicine
RVU-COM offers the following degree programs in health sciences:
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
Master of Medical Sciences
Curriculum at Rocky Vista University College of Medicine
The Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program is a four-year, full-time academic and clinical program. While the programs vary slightly by location, you can be assured you’ll receive an engaging and well-rounded education at either. In Montana, the curriculum follows an integrated block-based structure designed specifically for comprehensive osteopathic education.
The integrated curriculum allows students to apply what they learn rather than simply memorize facts in isolation. It's organized into distinct phases and during the first two years, students engage with clinical scenarios through hands-on simulation labs while building their foundational medical knowledge. Third and fourth-year students complete clinical rotations at RVU's affiliated training sites throughout Montana and neighboring regions, gaining diverse patient care experience. The dedicated faculty and staff at RVU-MCOM provide comprehensive support throughout the entire program, including COMLEX preparation and residency matching guidance.
Touro University College of Medicine Montana campus
In 2022, Touro University College of Medicine in Great Falls received pre-accreditation status, and it began accepting students with the 2022-2023 application cycle. As a brand new school, students became a part of history as its inaugural class began in 2023!
Degree programs at Touro University College of Medicine
Touro University College of Medicine offers the following degree programs for health sciences:
Touro University College of Medicine curriculum and clinical education
In the DO program, students spend the first two years immersed in comprehensive biological sciences education. This foundational period emphasizes osteopathic medicine's holistic approach to patient care, teaching students to consider biological, psychological, and environmental factors in diagnosis and treatment. Students participate in engaging simulation labs and early clinical experiences throughout this period, preparing them for the hands-on patient care that defines years three and four.
During the clinical years, students rotate through Touro's affiliated hospitals and clinics, practicing in specialties such as family medicine, internal medicine, psychiatry, integrative medicine, and more. These rotations take place at partner sites across Montana, exposing students to the state's unique healthcare landscape. Elective opportunities, including potential international study options, allow students to customize their medical education to match their career goals and interests.
Montana State University
Montana residents have a third option for obtaining a medical degree, and it’s the only allopathic medicine (MD) degree option in the state. Through the University of Washington, students can attend Montana State University in the WWAMI program to earn this degree.
What is the WWAMI program for medical schools in Montana?
Participants in the WWAMI program enroll at the University of Washington and complete the Foundations Phase (first 18 months) of their program at the partner institution—in this case, Montana State University. Following the Foundations Phase, students enter the Patient Care Phase for their third year and part of their fourth year. They’ll complete this portion at different partner sites located in Billings, Bozeman, or Missoula. All three locations offer Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Neurology, OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Surgery. Only Montana residents are eligible to participate in the WWAMI program.
Curriculum at Montana State University
The Foundations Phase (Months 1-18) is broken into various “blocks” and “threads.” The curriculum is organized into nine integrated blocks covering all major organ systems and medical sciences:
Block 1: Fundamentals of Medical Science & Research
Block 2: Infections & Immunity
Block 3: Cancer, Hormones, & Blood
Block 4: Muscles, Joints, Bones, & Skin
Block 5: Cardiovascular System
Block 6: Respiration & Regulation
Block 7: Head, Neck, & Gut
Block 8: Mind, Brain, & Behavior
Block 9: Lifecycle & Reproduction
Throughout these blocks, students complete five longitudinal "threads" that integrate clinical skills, professional development, and population health perspectives. After completing the Foundations Phase, students prepare for and take USMLE Step 1 before transitioning to clinical training.
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Part 4: Montana medical school admissions strategies
Whether you’re interested in enrolling in a DO or an MD program, there are some things you’ll need to strive for if you want to gain acceptance into medical schools in Montana.
Strategy 1: Demonstrate a strong commitment to underserved and rural communities
One goal of the WWAMI program is to train students to better serve underserved communities, often located in rural areas. To this end, it would behoove you to illustrate that you have a strong commitment to doing so.
One way to do this would be to volunteer with organizations that focus on exactly that. You could also participate in health education initiatives that are centered on informing healthcare workers in underserved areas how to better care for the patients in their care.
Regardless of your route, you’ll want to reflect on how those experiences have shaped your desire to serve in underserved communities and demonstrate this in your personal statement and/or secondary essays.
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Strategy 2: Build a strong academic foundation
Perhaps one of the most important things you can do to strengthen your med school application is to focus on developing and maintaining a strong academic foundation. You can do this by ensuring your GPA is as high as it can be—especially your science GPA.
You’ll also want to do your best to score very well on the MCAT. Typically, matriculants into DO programs have lower average MCAT scores and GPAs than those who enter MD programs, but this is no reason to aim lower.You’ll gain a major advantage if your GPA and MCAT score are higher than the average for the most recent class of matriculants.
Use the school’s resources and any other type of tutoring or academic consulting you can access. If self-study works well for you, consider using some of our premium resources, which provide loads of examples of personal statements and secondary essay responses! We also have MCAT Content Guides that cover every topic on the MCAT. If one-on-one tutoring is more your speed, consider our MCAT tutoring options.
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Strategy 3: Develop strong relationships with faculty and healthcare professionals
While it’s almost always a good idea to aim to develop relationships with your professors—by visiting them during office hours or talking with them outside of class in some other way—it’s even more important for premed students. Talk to your professors about your aspirations and desire to become a physician someday. Let them know your interests and how you see yourself practicing in the future. You may also lay the foundation for that professor to serve as a recommendation letter writer.
Additionally, you can make it a point to shadow healthcare professionals, especially those in rural areas. These experiences not only help shape your views but also provide you with the knowledge necessary to determine if a rural setting is where you want to spend the rest of your career life.
Final thoughts
Acceptance into medical schools in Montana is selective, and you’ll have three options for where you’d like to attend. If you’re willing to work hard, gain experience serving underserved communities, maintain a high GPA, and earn a high MCAT score, then it’s not out of reach. By implementing these strategies, you’ll better position yourself for applying to medical schools in Montana and achieving your dream of a career in medicine.
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Appendix A: Montana medical schools by degree type
Allopathic medical schools in Montana (MD)
Montana State University (WWAMI)
Osteopathic medical schools in Montana (DO)
Rocky Vista University College of Medicine
Touro University College of Medicine
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Appendix B: Montana medical schools by institution type
Public medical schools in Montana
Montana State University (WWAMI)
Private medical schools in Montana
Rocky Vista University College of Medicine
Touro University College of Medicine
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on medical school admissions. For over 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into medical school using his exclusive approach.
