Medical Schools in Texas: How to Get In (2025)

There are several reasons why attending medical school in Texas is a highly attractive option to many. 13 of the 16 medical schools in Texas are allopathic programs, and many Texas medical schools have strong reputations and support a wide variety of communities across the state. Whether you’re interested in living the urban life and conducting world-class research at a powerhouse like UT Southwestern in Dallas or serving rural and bicultural populations at UT Rio Grande Valley, there’s probably a Texas medical school for you.

The Benefits of Medical Education in Texas

Notably, Texas medical schools tend to have relatively low tuition—this is especially true for in-state students but applies to out-of-state students, too. On top of this, Texas as a whole has a low cost of living. Compared to other states like California, Texas medical schools receive considerably fewer applications and tend to carry reasonable price tags, making it an ideal choice for many Texans who would prefer to stay home near family and friends.

The Unique Application Process

It’s important to note that applying to Texas medical schools is a unique process. You’ll have to take a somewhat different approach when applying to Texas med schools vs. schools in other states because of the different application systems used:

• 14 of Texas’s 16 medical schools use TMDSAS as their primary application.
• One school uses AACOMAS.
• One school uses AMCAS.

Admissions Statistics and Rankings

Several Texas medical schools enjoy strong rankings, with four achieving ‘Tier 1’ status in the 2025 U.S. News Research rankings. However, the competition is heavily influenced by residency and institutional missions:

• Interview Rates: Texas residents are invited to interview at Texas medical schools at much higher rates than non-residents.
• Regional Missions: Many Texas medical schools have missions based in serving specific regions of the state; therefore, they seek applicants who have ties to those regions.
• Enrollment Caps: Public universities in Texas are legally required to cap their out-of-state enrollment at 10 percent.

Tuition and Fees Comparison

Tuition and fees at Texas medical schools are, by and large, much cheaper than they are at most other medical schools in the U.S. To provide context, here is how the costs compare based on national med school tuition and fees data:

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