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Midwestern University

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Midwestern University
Former names
American College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery
Chicago College of Osteopathy
MottoEducating Tomorrow's Healthcare Team
TypePrivate medical and professional school
Established1900; 126 years ago (1900)
Endowment$916.6 million (2025)[1]
PresidentJoshua C. Baker[2]
Faculty258 (Downers Grove)
377 (Glendale)[3]
Students2,594 (Downers Grove)
3,807 (Glendale)[3]
Location
Downers Grove, Illinois
Glendale, Arizona
,
United States
Campus
  • Suburban:
    Downers Grove, 105 acres (42 ha);
    Glendale, 156 acres (63 ha)
LanguageEnglish
ColorsDark blue, dark warm grey, light warm grey
Websitewww.midwestern.edu
Map

Midwestern University (MWU) is a private graduate university specializing in the health sciences, with campuses in Downers Grove, Illinois, and Glendale, Arizona. During the 2025–26 academic year, the university enrolled 6,401 students, including 2,594 at the Downers Grove campus and 3,807 at the Glendale campus.[3]

Founded in 1900 as the American College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, the university's founding college is now the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM), the fourth-oldest active medical school in Illinois.[4] The institution expanded to include other health-professions programs, which were united under the name Midwestern University in 1993. The university established its Glendale campus in 1995. Its two osteopathic medical schools are CCOM in Illinois and the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM) in Arizona.[5][6]

Midwestern University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. CCOM and AZCOM are accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.[7]

History

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Cardinal Hall on the Downers Grove, Illinois campus

Midwestern University was founded in 1900 as the American College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery by J. Martin Littlejohn and his brothers.[5] The institution was incorporated in Chicago as a nonprofit school for the training of osteopathic physicians. It was originally located on Washington Boulevard and later moved to Hyde Park. In 1913, the school became known as the Chicago College of Osteopathy and was later renamed the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine.

In 1986, CCOM moved from Hyde Park to the university's campus in the western Chicago suburb of Downers Grove, Illinois. The College of Pharmacy began in 1991, followed by the College of Health Sciences in 1992. In 1993, the board of trustees approved a common educational mission for the institution, and the Midwestern University name was adopted.[5] The College of Dental Medicine–Illinois opened in 2009, the Chicago College of Optometry in 2014, and the College of Graduate Studies in 2018.[5]

The Glendale, Arizona campus was founded in 1995 after the board of trustees approved the purchase of land and construction of the new campus. The Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine also began in 1995. The College of Health Sciences followed in 1996 and the College of Pharmacy–Glendale in 1998. The College of Dental Medicine–Arizona was established in 2006, the Arizona College of Optometry in 2008, the College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012, the College of Graduate Studies in 2018, and the Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine in 2020.[6]

Sahauro Hall on the Glendale, Arizona campus

The university subsequently opened the Midwestern University Multispecialty Clinic in Downers Grove in 2013.[5]

The College of Veterinary Medicine was established at the Glendale campus in 2012. Its development included a veterinary teaching hospital, a large-animal teaching facility, and classroom facilities. The college became the first veterinary medical school in Arizona.[8]

Recent history

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Kathleen H. Goeppinger joined Midwestern University's board of trustees in 1985 and became president and chief executive officer in 1995. She retired in 2025 after 30 years as president. During her presidency, enrollment grew from fewer than 900 students to nearly 7,000 across the university's two campuses.[9][10]

Joshua C. Baker was appointed interim president and CEO effective May 20, 2025, and was appointed president and CEO permanently effective September 11, 2025.[10][2] At the time of Baker's permanent appointment, the university stated that it had more than $555 million in planned construction projects in various stages of development across the two campuses, including approximately $286 million in Illinois and $270 million in Arizona.[2]

Midwestern also pursued plans for a second veterinary medical school, the proposed Chicago College of Veterinary Medicine, at the Downers Grove campus. In June 2026, the university halted development of the college and paused its accreditation process.[11]

Academics and accreditation

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Midwestern University offers graduate and professional programs in the health sciences. The university's programs include osteopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, veterinary medicine, podiatric medicine, clinical psychology, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, speech-language pathology, biomedical sciences, and other health-related fields.[3]

Doctoral degree programs include:

The university also offers master's degree programs, including programs in biomedical sciences, medical sciences, nurse anesthesia, occupational therapy, public health, nursing, speech-language pathology, and cardiovascular science.

Tuition and student debt

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For the 2004–05 academic year, AZCOM tuition was $34,099 for both residents and nonresidents, compared with averages of $30,192 for residents and $31,101 for nonresidents at private osteopathic medical schools. CCOM tuition was $29,755 for Illinois residents and $35,391 for nonresidents.[12]

For the 2026–27 academic year, annual tuition for the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program was $85,232 at CCOM and $82,672 at AZCOM. Required student-services and disability-insurance fees brought annual tuition and required fees to $86,780 at CCOM and $84,222 at AZCOM.[13][14]

The university reported average indebtedness of $350,849 among 2025 CCOM graduates and $315,873 among 2025 AZCOM graduates.[15]

Research

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Midwestern University conducts research in the biomedical and health sciences. Research areas include pharmacology, physiology, anatomy, and environmental toxicology. Some university research has been organized around the One Health concept, which considers connections among human, animal, and environmental health.[16]

According to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics' Higher Education Research and Development Survey, Midwestern reported $13.632 million in research and development expenditures in fiscal year 2024. Of that amount, $3.227 million came from federal sources and $10.030 million from institutional funds. Most of the reported expenditures were in the life sciences.[17]

Campuses

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The colleges at the two campuses, their founding years, and their principal institutional or professional accreditors are summarized below.[5][6][7]

Campus College Founded Accreditation
Downers Grove Midwestern University 1900 Higher Learning Commission
College of Dental Medicine–Illinois 2009 Commission on Dental Accreditation
College of Health Sciences 1992 Multiple programmatic accreditors
Chicago College of Optometry 2014 Accreditation Council on Optometric Education
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine 1900 Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation
College of Pharmacy, Downers Grove 1991 Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
College of Graduate Studies 2018 Higher Learning Commission
Glendale College of Dental Medicine–Arizona 2006 Commission on Dental Accreditation
College of Health Sciences 1996 Multiple programmatic accreditors
Arizona College of Optometry 2008 Accreditation Council on Optometric Education
Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine 1995 Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation
College of Pharmacy–Glendale 1998 Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
College of Veterinary Medicine 2012 American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education
College of Graduate Studies 2018 Higher Learning Commission
Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine 2020 Council on Podiatric Medical Education

Downers Grove, Illinois

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The Downers Grove campus is located in suburban DuPage County, Illinois, approximately 25 miles (40 km) west of downtown Chicago. The university describes the campus as occupying 105 acres (42 ha).[3] It includes academic and laboratory buildings, student housing, recreation facilities, and other student services.

Glendale, Arizona

[edit]
Aerial view of the Glendale, Arizona campus

The Glendale campus is located approximately 15 miles (24 km) northwest of downtown Phoenix. The university describes the campus as occupying 156 acres (63 ha).[3] It includes academic and research facilities, student housing, recreation facilities, and university-operated clinics.

Patient care

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Midwestern University operates teaching clinics associated with its academic programs at both campuses. The Downers Grove facilities include the Multispecialty Clinic, with services in family medicine, dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology. The Glendale campus operates clinical facilities in medicine, dentistry, optometry, therapy, and veterinary medicine.[18]

The Glendale Animal Health Institute includes veterinary clinical facilities for companion animals and large animals as well as diagnostic pathology services.[18]

Students

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During the 2025–26 academic year, Midwestern University reported 6,401 students: 2,594 at the Downers Grove campus and 3,807 at the Glendale campus.[3]

In 2020–21, 2,980 students attended the Downers Grove campus; 63% were female, 37% male, 58% White, 27% Asian, 6% Hispanic or Latino, and 2% Black or African American.[19] At the Glendale campus, 3,927 students attended; 57% were female, 43% male, 59% White, 17% Asian, 10% Hispanic or Latino, and 3% Black or African American.[20]

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "U.S. and Canadian 2025 NCSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2025 Endowment Market Value" (XLSX). National Association of College and University Business Officers. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Midwestern University Board of Trustees Appoints Dr. Joshua Baker as President and Chief Executive Officer". Midwestern University. September 17, 2025. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Midwestern University at a Glance". Midwestern University. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Message from the Dean". Midwestern University. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "History". 2026–2027 Downers Grove, Illinois Campus Catalog. Midwestern University. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 "History". 2026–2027 Glendale, Arizona Campus Catalog. Midwestern University. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  7. 1 2 "Accreditation". Midwestern University. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  8. ↑ Gonzales, Angela (March 7, 2012). "Midwestern to spend $90M on state's first veterinary school". Phoenix Business Journal.
  9. ↑ "Midwestern University President Kathleen Goeppinger Announces Retirement". Women in Academia Report. June 2, 2025. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Midwestern University Announces Leadership Transition". Midwestern University. May 21, 2025. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  11. ↑ Wogan, Lisa (June 12, 2026). "Midwestern halts veterinary school on its Illinois campus". VIN News Service. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Undergraduate Osteopathic Medical Education". The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. 104 (11): 460–467. November 2004. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2004.104.11.460.
  13. ↑ "Costs for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine - Downers Grove". Midwestern University. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Costs for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine - Glendale". Midwestern University. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  15. ↑ "CCOM & AZCOM Student Debt and Loan Default Rates". Midwestern University. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  16. ↑ Prozialeck, W. C.; Edwards, J. R. (September 2018). "The One Health Initiative as a Basis for Research Development in the Department of Pharmacology at Midwestern University". The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. 118 (9): 610–616. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2018.135. PMID 30178051.
  17. ↑ "Midwestern U.: Total R&D expenditures, by source of funds and R&D field: 2024". National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, National Science Foundation. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  18. 1 2 "Midwestern University Clinics". Midwestern University. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Midwestern University-Downers Grove". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Midwestern University-Glendale". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved August 12, 2026.

Further reading

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  • Berchtold, Theodore (1975). To Teach, to Heal, to Serve!: The Story of the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine: The First 75 Years (1900–1975). First ed. p. 239.
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