DO vs MD: What are the Differences and Which is Better? (2023 – 2024)
Learn about the differences between DO and MD with regards to the medical school application, your medical school education, and your future salary...
MedEdits Medical Admissions is the nation's premier medical school admissions consulting firm. Since 2007, founder Jessica Freedman, M.D., and our team of physician educators have guided thousands of aspiring medical professionals through their premedical and medical school journey. Our faculty advisors bring invaluable insider knowledge from serving on medical school admissions committees, education committees, and hospital boards. Combined with our specialized medical admissions writing coaches, we provide the comprehensive guidance and industry expertise essential for acceptance to medical school, residency, and fellowship programs.
11 min read
Jessica Freedman MD
:
Sep 26, 2025 12:38:17 PM
With 16 Texas medical schools, and with tuition that is, relative to other medical schools in the United States, on the lower end this is a great state to consider. We know that many Texas residents would choose to remain or return to Texas for medical school. Texas offers many great options for prospective students with medical schools top-ranked in research and others distinguished for serving rural and underserved populations.
With an overall slower pace of life than some other cities, as well as a more reasonable cost of living, Texas can be an appealing state in which to go to medical school for both in state and out of state residents.
By understanding Texas medical schools' admissions statistics you can figure out how competitive you are for admission. Texas medical school applicants apply to allopathic and osteopathic medical schools in Texas via three application services (TMDSAS, AMCAS and AACOMAS) depending on which schools interest them most. Fourteen Texas medical schools use TMDSAS, one uses AMCAS and one uses AACOMAS.
In this article, you will find information about Texas medical school admissions statistics, but, we encourage you to read TMDSAS: The Definitive Guide for more suggestions about how to approach TMDSAS specifically.
Texas has a total of 16 medical schools (13 allopathic and three osteopathic) of which two, Baylor College of Medicine and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, are in the top 30 medical schools in research and the top 20 in primary care, according to U.S. News and World Report. Texas medical schools are competitive to get into, especially for out-of-state students.
Below is a list of all allopathic medical schools in Texas. We have ranked them based on the most recent U.S. News medical school rankings which are in parenthesis. (UR: Unranked)
Below is a list of the osteopathic medical schools in Texas. We have ranked them based on the most recent U.S. News medical school rankings which are in parenthesis. (UR: unranked)
Burnett School of Medicine at TCU is the only Texas medical school that participates in AMCAS.
Texas A&M's EnMed program for MD/PhD and non-resident EnMed applicants only.
University of Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine is the only medical school in Texas that participates in AACOMAS.
The vast majority of medical schools in Texas use TMDSAS.
Fourteen Texas medical schools use an independent application service, The Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service or TMDSAS. As a part of the TMDSAS application, you will need to compose a personal statement, activities entries, as well as two additional essays. Below is a list of the TMDSAS application essays and components:
For more information about TMDSAS, see TMDSAS: The Ultimate Guide.
Below are the average MCAT scores and GPAs, interview rates for in state and out of state applicants, acceptance rates, percent of entering class that is in state, and tuition for all medical schools in Texas. When considering how competitive you are for Texas medical schools, this is the data you should refer to.
Related Article: Medical School Admissions Statistics
Entering year 2024:
It is important to keep in mind, however, that some applicants accepted to Texas medical schools using TMDSAS ultimately choose to attend AMCAS medical schools.
Baylor College of Medicine
Average GPA: | 3.93 |
Average MCAT: | 518 |
Interview rate(s) (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | 27% (in-state) 6% (out-of-state) |
Acceptance rate: | 4.1% |
Percent of entering class in-state: | 82.7% |
Tuition (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | $29,570 (in-state) $42,680 (out-of-state) |
McGovern Medical School (Houston)
Average GPA: | 3.85 |
Average MCAT: | 512 |
Interview rate(s) (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | 21% (in-state) 5.6% (out-of-state) |
Acceptance rate: | 9.5% |
Percent of entering class in-state: | 95% |
Tuition (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | $29,531 (in-state) $37,186 (out-of-state) |
Texas A&M College of Medicine
Average GPA: | 3.86 |
Average MCAT: | 513 |
Interview rate(s) (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | 12.7% (in-state) 7% (out-of-state) |
Acceptance rate: | N/A |
Percent of entering class in-state: | 95% |
Tuition (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | $22,379 (in-state) $35,479 (out-of-state) |
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
Average GPA: | 3.85 |
Average MCAT: | 509 |
Interview rate(s) (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | 16% (in-state) 3% (out-of-state) |
Acceptance rate: | N/A |
Percent of entering class in-state: | 94.4% |
Tuition (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | $22,936 (in-state) $37,970 (out-of-state) |
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Lubbock
Average GPA: | 3.9 |
Average MCAT: | 512 |
Interview rate(s) (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | 20% (in-state) 11.3% (out-of-state) |
Acceptance rate: | 9.1% |
Percent of entering class in-state: | 90% |
Tuition (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | $23,229 (in-state) $39,572 (out-of-state) |
Long Medical School San Antonio
Average GPA: | 3.88 |
Average MCAT: | 518 |
Interview rate(s) (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | 18% (in-state) 12% (out-of-state) |
Acceptance rate: | 8.4% |
Percent of entering class in-state: | 88% |
Tuition (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | $21,823 (in-state) $37,239 (out-of-state) |
University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School
Average GPA: | 3.78 |
Average MCAT: | 514 |
Interview rate(s) (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | 9% (in-state) 2% (out-of-state) |
Acceptance rate: | 2.3% |
Percent of entering class in-state: | 90% |
Tuition (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | $21,268 (in-state) $35,030 (out-of-state) |
University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine at Galveston
Average GPA: | 3.8 |
Average MCAT: | 511 |
Interview rate(s) (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | 18% (in-state) 5% (out-of-state) |
Acceptance rate: | 10.6% |
Percent of entering class in-state: | 94% |
Tuition (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | $26,766 (in-state) $41,932 (out-of-state) |
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
Average GPA: | 3.69 |
Average MCAT: | 508 |
Interview rate(s) (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | 9% (in-state) 7% (out-of-state) |
Acceptance rate: | N/A |
Percent of entering class in-state: | 96% |
Tuition (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | $21,532 (in-state) $34,632 (out-of-state) |
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
Related: How to get into UT Southwestern Medical School and Requirements.
Average GPA: | 3.89 |
Average MCAT: | 516 |
Interview rate(s) (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | 14% (in-state) 8% (out-of-state) |
Acceptance rate: | 8.8% |
Percent of entering class in-state: | 87% |
Tuition (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | $25,122 (in-state) $38,737 (out-of-state) |
Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at TCU
Average GPA: | 3.74 |
Average MCAT: | 511 |
Interview rate(s) (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | 6% in-state 4% out of state |
Acceptance rate: | N/A |
Percent of entering class in-state: | 26% |
Tuition (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | $76,160 (all) |
University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine
Average GPA: | 3.65 |
Average MCAT: | 505 |
Interview rate(s) (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | 14.7% overall |
Acceptance rate: | N/A |
Percent of entering class in-state: | 100% |
Tuition (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | $25,668 (in-state) |
University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine
Average GPA: | 3.59 |
Average MCAT: | 506 |
Interview rate(s) (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | 4.5% in-state <1% out-of-state |
Acceptance rate: | N/A |
Percent of entering class in-state: | 96.7% |
Tuition (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | $24,268 (in-state) $37,368 (out of state) |
University of North Texas – Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Average GPA: | 3.83 |
Average MCAT: | 509 |
Interview rate(s) (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | N/A |
Acceptance rate: | 12.4% |
Percent of entering class in-state: | 93% |
Tuition (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | $19,751 (in-state) $35,439 (out-of-state) |
Sam Houston University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Average GPA: | 3.7 |
Average MCAT: | 506 |
Interview rate(s) (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | 21.7% (all) |
Acceptance rate: | N/A |
Percent of entering class in-state: | 96.4% |
Tuition (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | $26,500 (in-state) $46,000 (out of state) |
University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
Average GPA: | 3.62 |
Average MCAT: | 504 |
Interview rate(s) (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | 18% overall |
Acceptance rate: | N/A |
Percent of entering class in-state: | 73% |
Tuition (in-state and out-of-state applicants): | $64,700 (all) |
Related Article: Medical School Application Timeline
Considering applying to medical schools in Texas? Sign up for a FREE 15 minute advising session with an admissions expert.Getting into medical school is tough, regardless of whether you are an in-state or out-of-state applicant. First, you need to determine whether your GPA and MCAT score is competitive. As a very general rule of thumb, MedEdits considers you competitive if your GPA is no less than .25 points lower than a school's average GPA and your MCAT no lower than three points below a school's average. However, there are other factors to consider when determining your overall competitiveness.
Then, you need to figure out to which medical schools you want to apply. Only three Texas medical schools do not participate in TMDSAS (Baylor, TCU and UNTHSC and University of Incarnate Word). Therefore, you must make sure your TMDSAS application sets you apart. Thankfully, the TMDSAS application offers lots of opportunity to do that. We have broken down the TMDSAS application components below.
Not only should your medical school personal statement reflect your passion for medicine while highlighting your distinctive qualities and experiences, but, it also offers the chance to explain why you want to attend medical school in Texas and your connection with the state. Because medical schools in Texas have some distinct missions, your background might make you a better for some, and a weaker fit for others. As with every step of the admissions process, don't try to "tweak" your persona; always be true to yourself and let your experiences tell your story.
You should also take advantage of the two additional TMDSAS essays by emphasizing different aspects of your background, values and ideals than you did in your personal statement. If you are an out-of-state applicant applying to Texas medical schools, you absolutely need to have a competitive application overall.
12 Texas medical schools offer a further opportunity to set yourself apart.
These 12 medical schools offer another opportunity to set yourself apart from other applicants because the school's missions differ, as od the communities served, and overall strengths. Therefore, when writing secondary essays, pay attention to each school's prompt while also considering the school's mission and communities it serves.
For example, Dell Medical School initiated an innovative secondary video application in place of the traditional written secondary essay. In this video, applicants are asked to reflect on how their own experiences reflect the values and ideals of Dell's mission and vision to "revolutionize how people stay and get healthy" through a "vital, inclusive health ecosystem."
Related: TMDSAS: The Definitive Guide
For Texas residents, applying to medical schools in Texas become a no-brainer. With so many great medical schools, all of which offer in-state preference, all Texas residents should apply. However, for out of state applicants, one must consider if they are competitive for Texas medical schools and if they would like to live in the state. With a separate application system, applying to Texas medical schools is certainly more "work" and an added stress. However, Texas is appealing because of great medical education options, lower in-state tuition and cost of living.
JESSICA FREEDMAN, M.D., a former medical school and residency admissions officer at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, is the founder and chair of MedEdits Medical Admissions and author of three top-selling books about the medical admissions process that you can find on Amazon.
Learn about the differences between DO and MD with regards to the medical school application, your medical school education, and your future salary...
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