Private health sciences university training osteopathic physicians and allied health professionals for rural and underserved communities.
PNWU offers five graduate and postgraduate programs focused on health sciences education. The flagship College of Osteopathic Medicine grants the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree over four years, with years 1–2 emphasizing classroom-based learning in gross anatomy, osteopathic manipulative treatment, and basic sciences, and years 3–4 consisting of clinical rotations across 18 sites in the five-state region. Additional programs include a three-year Doctor of Physical Therapy, two-year Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, four-year Doctor of Dental Medicine, and one-year Master of Arts in Medical Sciences. PNWU partners with Washington State University to host WSU PharmD and Nursing students on campus.
The 64-acre urban campus in Yakima features multiple specialized buildings. Butler-Haney Hall (opened 2008, expanded 2013) houses the College of Osteopathic Medicine with anatomy labs, OMT and physical skills labs, classrooms, and library. Cadwell Center (2011) provides classrooms and labs for WSU PharmD students. Watson Hall (2019) is home to the School of Physical Therapy and WSU College of Nursing–Yakima. The Multicare Learning Center (2023) is a 53,000 sq ft facility with in-patient and out-patient simulation labs, occupational therapy performance lab, and pediatric sensory gym. Delta Dental Equity Hall opened February 2024 to house the dental program.
As of Fall 2023, PNWU enrolls 650 students with diverse demographics: 49.2% White/Non-Hispanic, 27.9% Asian, 15.2% Hispanic, and smaller percentages of other groups. The 2023 cohort is 52.8% female and 46.7% male with an average age of 26; 23% are from rural areas and 29% from medically underserved areas. Matriculants are predominantly from the five-state region (70% in 2023–24), with 54.3% from Washington. Students participate in clubs, student government, volunteer opportunities at the Union Gospel Mission Medical Clinic, and research with faculty through the Office of Scholarly Activity.
All PNWU programs use the Centralized Application System (CAS) for streamlined applications. The Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences, and Doctor of Dental Medicine programs have applications open. The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy applications open July 17, 2026. Prospective students should contact the Office of Admission at admission@pnwu.edu or 509.249.7888 for guidance.