Colorado’s Third Medical College is Accepting Student Applications

The Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) has granted the University of Northern Colorado’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNC COM) Pre-accreditation status. The designation from COCA, the accrediting body for colleges of osteopathic medicine, confirms the university’s new medical college has met or exceeded the commission’s standards for educational quality and can begin recruiting students for its inaugural fall 2026 class.  

UNC COM is the state’s third medical college and the first public College of Osteopathic Medicine in Colorado. It’s also the only medical college in the state located on a traditional college campus, offering students unique opportunities and access to interdisciplinary learning, collaboration and community-engaged experiences with peers and faculty in complementary fields such as behavioral sciences, public health, communication, business, education and other health science fields. This multidisciplinary environment aligns with the integrated team-based approach to modern health care and the philosophy of osteopathic medicine, preparing graduates to work seamlessly across disciplines to support the whole patient. 

With the planned capacity to enroll 150 medical students each year once it’s fully operational, UNC COM will serve a pivotal role in helping to strengthen Colorado’s health care workforce. 

“This bold vision — to establish a College of Osteopathic Medicine at UNC — was born from a call to action from our local health care partners to help address the critical need for physicians in Colorado,” said UNC President Andy Feinstein. “This designation is a tremendous milestone for the university and a clear signal that we are moving with purpose toward preparing the next generation of physicians.” 

Colorado and the rest of the nation are facing a significant physician shortage. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the United States will see a shortage of approximately 896,000 physicians by 2036. There is also a considerable need in Colorado as 53 of the state’s 64 counties contain regions designated as health professional shortage areas in primary care, and less than 35% of the states’ needs for physicians are currently being met. 

With more than half of all osteopathic physicians specializing in primary care and a long tradition of serving rural and underserved communities — key places where Colorado’s need for doctors is especially urgent — Founding Dean Beth Longenecker, DO, sees the college as a powerful driver to help increase access to health care across the state. 

“Our vision is to create a college of osteopathic medicine that serves as a catalyst in building a physician workforce who will positively impact communities across Colorado and the intermountain region,” said Longenecker.  “Our students will train in a program that prioritizes their individual success and gives them meaningful opportunities to apply their knowledge through case- and team-based learning. They will also learn strategies for creating a collaborative physician-patient relationship, equipping them with the skills and empathy essential to patient-centered care.”    

UNC’s strong expertise in sciences and health sciences programs, combined with its history of service and commitment to community and student success, provides a strong foundation for a medical college. Located in Greeley, Colorado, one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the state and nation, students will train in a region experiencing rapid population growth in both rural and urban areas and learn from faculty and staff with more than 200 combined years of experience in medical education.  

“With our breadth and depth of experience, our faculty know the challenges our students will face and are eager to provide mentorship and guidance,” said Longenecker. “Our newly designed curriculum is dynamic and integrated and will emphasize active learning, critical thinking and the application of osteopathic principles, ensuring our students are well-prepared for clinical practice.”   

Construction on the new medical college, which began in September 2024, will be completed this summer, before the inaugural class starts in July. Students will learn in a brand new, 110,000-square-foot medical education facility that is designed specifically for the way today’s medical students learn best — featuring state-of-the-art simulation labs, flexible learning spaces cadaveric and virtual anatomy labs. 

Funded by strategic investments from the State of Colorado through House Bill 24-1231 and generous local philanthropic partners like The Weld Trust, the UNC COM is positioned to deliver substantial economic and community benefits across the state. Over the next 18 years, the UNC COM is expected to boost Colorado’s economy by $1.4 billion, with just over half a billion ($501 million) dollars strengthening the local Weld County community. Beyond that initial period, the college is expected to contribute at least $197.2 million annually in added income to the state’s economy. 

The UNC COM is currently recruiting its inaugural class to start the fall 2026 semester. To learn more about the UNC COM visit unco.edu/college-of-osteopathic-medicine/.