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Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Inc

EIN 25-1698677 · Erie, PA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF LAKE ERIE COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (LECOM) IS TO PREPARE STUDENTS TO BECOME OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS, PHARMACY PRACTITIONERS AND DENTISTS THROUGH PROGRAMS OF EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION, RESEARCH, CLINICAL CARE, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH IMPROVED HEALTH FOR ALL HUMANITY.

Income
$230.5 million
Spending
$134.4 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
81 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 76%
Employees
1,056
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$1.8 million, provost/vp of academics

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 81.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 42% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    4 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $105.2 million spent. LECOM IS ONE OF THE 45 COLLEGES OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE. IN 1992, THE LAKE ERIE COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE RECEIVED PRE-ACCREDITATION STATUS FROM THE AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION. AFTER FURTHER PREPARATION, LECOM ACHIEVED A CHARTER FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA AND FULL ACCREDITATION STATUS. LECOM ALSO HAS FULL ACCREDITATION STATUS WITH THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF PHARMACEUTICAL EDUCATION. IT IS ONE OF OVER 140 PHARMACY SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES. LECOM HAS FULL ACCREDITATION STATUS WITH THE AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION'S COMMISSION ON DENTAL ACCREDITATION. IT IS ONE OF 70 DENTAL SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE SCHOOL OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE HAS ACCREDITATION STATUS FROM THE COUNCIL ON PODIATRIC MEDICAL EDUCATION (CPME). IT IS ONE OF 11 PODIATRIC MEDICAL SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE GOAL OF LAKE ERIE COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE IS TO EDUCATE QUALIFIED STUDENTS TO BECOME OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS IMBUED WITH THE PHILOSOPHICAL PRINCIPLES OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE. IT IS THE STATED PURPOSE OF THE COLLEGE TO EDUCATE AND DEVELOP FAMILY PHYSICIANS IN THE OSTEOPATHIC TRADITION. AT THE SAME TIME, IT PROPOSES TO PROVIDE ITS STUDENTS WITH FIRM ACADEMIC BACKGROUND SO THAT THOSE WHO WISH MAY ADVANCE FURTHER INTO THE OSTEOPATHIC SPECIALTIES OR ACADEMIC CAREERS, PARTICULARLY FOR AND WITH OSTEOPATHIC COLLEGES. THE GOAL OF THE SCHOOL OF PHARMACY AND SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE IS TO PREPARE PHARMACY AND DENTAL PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY, ETHICAL, AND EMPATHETIC PATIENT-CENTERED CARE TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF A DIVERSE POPULATION.THREE ACADEMIC DOCTORAL DEGREES ARE CURRENTLY CONFERRED AT LECOM. THE DOCTOR OF OSTEOPATHY (DO), THE DOCTOR OF PHARMACY, AND THE DOCTOR OF DENTAL MEDICINE ARE AWARDED TO GRADUATES WHO HAVE SATISFACTORILY FULFILLED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION. THE FIRST MEDICAL CLASSES BEGAN ON AUGUST 9, 1993 AND 61 STUDENTS ENROLLED. THE COLLEGE BEGAN A SCHOOL OF PHARMACY IN THE FALL OF 2002. FIRST CLASSES FOR THE SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE BEGAN IN AUGUST, 2012. FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, THERE WERE 4,300 MEDICAL, PHARMACY, DENTAL, POST-BACCALAUREATE, AND MASTERS STUDENTS ENROLLED. THE COLLEGE HAS FOUR CAMPUSES: ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, GREENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, BRADENTON, FLORIDA AND ELMIRA, NEW YORK.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1994.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.