Top 20 Medical Schools In Texas (2026)

Texas is home to a robust and well-regarded network of medical schools, offering a wide range of educational opportunities across the state. These institutions are known for their strong clinical training, world-class research facilities, and a commitment to serving diverse communities, from major metropolitan centers to rural and border regions.

The state provides a significant advantage to in-state applicants, as Texas law mandates that 90% of seats at public medical schools be reserved for Texas residents. The Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Services (TMDSAS) provides a unified application process for most state schools, simplifying the process for applicants.

Top 20 Medical Schools In Texas

1. Baylor College of Medicine (Houston)

Baylor College of Medicine is a prestigious private medical school located in the Texas Medical Center in Houston and is widely considered one of the top medical schools in the state. It is a Tier 1 research institution, one of only 16 in the nation, and is recognized for its clinical excellence and significant NIH funding, ranking first in Texas for research grants. Baylor is highly selective with a 4.02% acceptance rate and strongly favors Texas residents, with around 80% of its student body coming from the state. The school offers a comprehensive MD program and uses the TMDSAS application, though its MD/PhD program requires a separate AMCAS application.

2. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas)

UT Southwestern is the premier public research institution among Texas medical schools, holding the No. 1 ranking in North Texas and a strong global position at No. 113 worldwide according to U.S. News & World Report. It is recognized as a Tier 1 medical school for research and offers one of the most robust MD programs in the state. The school is associated with Parkland Memorial Hospital, a very large teaching hospital in Dallas, and trains nearly 4,000 students each year. UT Southwestern has an acceptance rate of around 4% and, as a public school, offers significantly lower tuition for Texas residents and advantages them in the admissions process.

3. McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston (Houston)

McGovern Medical School is a large public medical school and a key component of UTHealth Houston, located in the Texas Medical Center. With an acceptance rate of approximately 4.2%, it is the largest medical school in Texas and the 9th largest in the country, providing extensive clinical and research opportunities. The school uses a pass/fail grading system in its first semester to help students acclimate to the rigor of medical school. Approximately 95% of its student body are Texas residents, reflecting the strong in-state advantage at this public institution.

4. University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) – Galveston

UTMB is a historic public medical school in Galveston, known for being one of the oldest and most established medical schools in Texas, with a long tradition of educating physicians. It is recognized for its broad clinical training and its programs in infectious diseases and microbiology. The school has an acceptance rate of around 4.2% and, as a public university, provides a significant admissions and tuition advantage to Texas residents. UTMB is a key institution for medical education on the Gulf Coast and uses the TMDSAS application system.

5. Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio (San Antonio)

The Long School of Medicine is a major public medical school serving South Texas and is the largest medical school in the region. The school has an acceptance rate of around 4.2% and is known for its strong clinical programs in areas like cancer and diabetes, with a main thrust on community service in the South Texas region. Approximately 88.4% of its students are Texas residents, and the school offers a strong clinical volume in a large academic health system. It is the primary medical education center for the San Antonio area.

6. Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine (Bryan)

Texas A&M’s College of Medicine is a public institution with a multi-campus model that trains physicians across the state, with its main campus in Bryan (near College Station) and additional locations in Dallas, Houston, and Round Rock. The school has an acceptance rate of approximately 3.5% and offers a mission-driven program with a focus on rural and underserved populations, though one of its campuses is in the Texas Medical Center for students seeking a more urban experience. Students spend one and a half years on pre-clinical training and two and a half years on clinical, more than the average medical school. The school also offers a military service track for students interested in becoming physicians in the armed forces.

7. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine (Lubbock)

TTUHSC School of Medicine is a public medical school in Lubbock that serves as the primary medical education provider for West Texas and was founded to address a shortage of physicians in the region. With an acceptance rate of approximately 3.7%, the school maintains a strong regional focus, and students spend their first two years in Lubbock before training at satellite campuses throughout West Texas. The school is known for its focus on rural and underserved communities and offers a three-year track specifically for students interested in family medicine. Approximately 90% of its students are Texas residents.

8. Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin (Austin)

Dell Medical School is a newer public medical school in Austin, founded in 2013, and known for its innovative approach to medical education and healthcare delivery. With a focus on rethinking medical education, the school compresses its science curriculum to a single year, allowing the third year to be spent on research or an independent project. The school’s purpose is to improve access to healthcare in central Texas, especially among underserved populations. As a public university, Dell Medical School advantages in-state students in the admissions process and for tuition.

9. Paul L. Foster School of Medicine at TTUHSC El Paso (El Paso)

Paul L. Foster School of Medicine is a public medical school in El Paso that serves the border region and emphasizes bilingual and bicultural education to address the unique healthcare needs of its community. The school is known for its strong clinical studies program and focus on working with underserved populations, with all students required to take a public health component and begin clinical experiences in their first year. The curriculum is pass-fail for the first two years, and students have the option to volunteer at student-run clinics. Approximately 94% of its students are Texas residents.

10. University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine (Houston)

The University of Houston’s medical school is a public institution with a social mission to improve health and lessen disparities in underserved communities in Houston. Founded in 2019, this relatively new school integrates clinical experiences beginning in the first year, with students taking part in weekly clinical experiences at primary care clinics. A unique aspect of the curriculum is household-centered care, where students are sent out to help in home health to understand systemic challenges to healthcare. Approximately 96% of its students are Texas residents.

11. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine (Edinburg)

UTRGV School of Medicine is a public medical school serving the Rio Grande Valley, one of the most medically underserved regions in the country. The school offers a four-year, competency-based curriculum and is dedicated to improving healthcare in the region, providing students with strong community medicine exposure. As a public university, Texas residents are advantaged in the admissions process and for tuition.

12. Burnett School of Medicine at Texas Christian University (Fort Worth)

TCU’s Burnett School of Medicine is a private medical school in Fort Worth that offers a unique curriculum with a focus on the “human dimension” of patient care, prioritizing the well-being of both patients and physicians. This relatively new program, established in 2015, requires students to complete a research project and has a strong curricular focus on communication in medicine. TCU is one of only two medical schools in Texas that uses AMCAS instead of TMDSAS for admissions, and it does not advantage Texas residents in admissions or tuition. The school recently opened a new 100,000 square foot campus in Fort Worth.

13. University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine (Tyler)

UT Tyler School of Medicine is the newest medical school in the UT System and serves the East Texas region, established to address the physician shortage in this area. The school offers a primary care-focused curriculum with clinical exposure in rural and East Texas communities. As a public university, in-state students have an advantage in the admissions process and for tuition.

14. Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (Conroe)

SHSU-COM is a relatively new DO program in Conroe, near Houston, that achieved “Full Accreditation with Exceptional Outcomes” in 2024. The program has a focus on primary care and rural medicine, with the goal of educating physicians who will serve the eastern part of Texas. Clinical training occurs in both community hospitals and rural clinics. The majority of students at SHSU-COM are Texas residents, with approximately 96% coming from the state.

15. Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at UNTHSC (Fort Worth)

TCOM is one of the oldest and most established DO programs in the country, located in Fort Worth, and has a strong primary care placement record. It is widely considered one of the top DO schools in the US and has a class size of roughly 230 students. The school has an emphasis on serving under-resourced populations, and around 60% of graduates go on to enter primary care. TCOM has been participating in TMDSAS since 2000 and is a public school that advantages Texas residents.

16. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (El Paso)

This campus is another MD-granting component of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center system, providing medical education specifically to the El Paso and West Texas region. While distinct from the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, it shares a similar mission of serving the border community. It is a public institution that offers clinical training and education in a region with unique healthcare needs.

17. University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine (San Antonio)

UIWSOM is a private, mission-driven DO program in San Antonio that is the only Texas medical school to use AACOMAS instead of TMDSAS. As a faith-based school affiliated with a Catholic university, Catholic teachings inform its philosophy, though students of all faith backgrounds are welcome. The school focuses on an integrated curriculum and case-based learning with a strong emphasis on community service. UIW does not advantage Texas residents in tuition or admissions, though approximately 73% of its students are from Texas.

18. Texas A&M University School of Engineering Medicine (Houston)

EnMed is a unique program within Texas A&M, located in Houston, that offers an MD degree with a Master of Engineering, training physician-engineers for the future of healthcare. It is currently a track within Texas A&M’s College of Medicine and is pursuing independent accreditation. This innovative pathway is designed for students interested in the intersection of medicine and engineering.

19. University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (DO)

UNTHSC’s Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine is one of the most established DO programs in the nation and is recognized for its strong focus on primary care and serving under-resourced populations. Around 60% of graduates go on to enter primary care fields, and the program has a class size of roughly 230 students. TCOM participates in TMDSAS and is a public school that advantages Texas residents.

20. University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School (Austin)

Dell Medical School is a newer public medical school in Austin, founded in 2013, and known for its innovative approach to medical education and healthcare delivery. With a focus on rethinking medical education, the school compresses its science curriculum to a single year, allowing the third year to be spent on research or an independent project. The school’s purpose is to improve access to healthcare in central Texas, especially among underserved populations. As a public university, Dell Medical School advantages in-state students in the admissions process and for tuition.

Comparison Table

Success Tips for Applying

Start by understanding the application systems for Texas medical schools. Most MD and some DO schools use TMDSAS, which has a flat application fee of $230 for all participating schools. MD/PhD programs typically require AMCAS, and UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine uses AACOMAS.

As a Texas resident, leverage the 90% in-state rule and apply to every TMDSAS school to maximize your chances.

TMDSAS opens on May 1, with processing taking two to four weeks, so taking the MCAT by late April with a score release by late May will make your application competitive in the earliest review wave.

Research each school’s mission; schools like the University of Houston Fertitta College of Medicine emphasize underserved communities, while UT Southwestern values research and clinical excellence.

Be aware that the CASPer test is required for most MD programs and check each school’s specific requirements, such as application deadlines and prerequisite courses.

Closing

Texas offers a comprehensive and highly competitive medical education landscape, from top-tier research institutions like UT Southwestern and Baylor College of Medicine to mission-driven schools focused on primary care and underserved populations. With a unified application system for most public schools and a strong in-state advantage for residents, Texas provides an accessible and prestigious pathway to a career in medicine.

When applying, carefully consider each school’s unique mission, program structure, and application requirements to ensure the best fit for your career goals. Note that all information, including rankings and program details, is subject to change, so it is essential to verify current details directly with each institution and through official resources like the TMDSAS and the Texas Medical Board.