Western University of Health Sciences

Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) is a private nonprofit graduate university devoted to health professions. Its main campus is in Pomona, California, and a second campus in Lebanon, Oregon, serves programs based there. The university’s eight colleges train students in fields ranging from osteopathic medicine, dentistry and pharmacy to nursing, optometry, podiatric medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant studies and veterinary medicine. WesternU emphasizes interprofessional learning, so students from different health disciplines learn to work together. This is a professional graduate school, not a traditional undergraduate college; applicants should already be planning for a specific clinical or health-science pathway.

Programs and the two campuses

WesternU lists 27 academic programs. In Pomona, students can pursue degrees including the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Dental Medicine, Doctor of Pharmacy, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Doctor of Optometry, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, Doctor of Physical Therapy and master’s programs in physician assistant studies, nursing and health sciences. Some nursing and other graduate programs are hybrid or distance formats. The main campus is also connected to WesternU Health clinics, where selected services are delivered in a teaching environment. Confirm the clinical requirements, rotations and campus assignment for the exact program you want; an Oregon-based version of a degree may have different admissions and location details.

California main campus: 309 E. Second St., Pomona, CA 91766-1854; general information (909) 623-6116. Google Maps lists Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday are closed.

Oregon locations in Lebanon:

• WesternU HCOM: 200 Mullins Drive, Lebanon, OR 97355-3983; (541) 259-0200. This location offers the Oregon Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program.
• College of Health Sciences–Northwest: 2665 S. Santiam Highway, Lebanon, OR 97355; (541) 259-0442. The Northwest campus hosts selected health-sciences programs.

These are separate instructional locations within the university. Ask your admissions office where classes and clinical rotations for your chosen program take place before arranging a visit or housing.

Tuition, scholarships and financial aid

WesternU tuition is set separately by college and program, and the university has published 2026–27 tuition schedules for its health-sciences colleges. Medical, dental, veterinary, pharmacy and other professional degrees have distinct costs, fees and required supplies, so a general estimate can be misleading. Request a full cost-of-attendance breakdown for your program, including clinical travel, equipment and living expenses, and compare that with your financial aid offer.

The university offers federal, state, institutional and privately funded assistance. Its financial aid office lists scholarships ranging from $100 to $20,000. Incoming-student recruitment awards may be available in several colleges and are based on academic achievement and community contributions; offers depend on funding and are made with the admission decision, without a separate scholarship application. WesternU also describes a Board of Trustees Scholarship intended to recruit students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds into graduate health programs. Each award has its own conditions, so ask financial aid about current eligibility, service obligations and renewal rules, and complete the FAFSA if eligible. The school’s scholarship and loan-repayment resources are useful starting points.

Applying and preparing for clinical study

Applications are handled by the relevant college, and prerequisites vary by degree. For example, osteopathic medicine applicants apply through AACOMAS and need prerequisite coursework, MCAT scores and recommendations; nursing, pharmacy, veterinary medicine and other programs set different admission steps. Look at the specific program page, review its current tuition schedule, and ask about clinical placements before submitting an application. WesternU’s program directory links to degree details, and the admissions office can direct you to the application and campus visit for each college.

What student comments describe

Graduate student comments often value hands-on clinical experiences, approachable instructors and the chance to learn in smaller cohorts. Some reviews describe demanding workloads, uneven communication before a program begins, or concerns about support services. Experiences differ by college, campus and cohort, so read comments from students in the program you are considering, then ask admissions how clinical rotations are arranged, how students receive academic or disability support, and who will be your contact before classes start. A program-specific conversation is especially useful at a university where each college has its own admissions process and professional requirements.