September 6, 2025
Written By
Michael Minh Le
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You’re not just curious about med school. You’re interested in one of Texas’ most respected programs, and you want the truth behind the Long School of Medicine acceptance rate. Maybe you’ve heard it’s competitive, or maybe you’re just wondering if your GPA is enough and your story is compelling.
This guide covers everything you need to know to get into the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine. We’ll walk you through how hard it really is to get in, what GPA and MCAT scores you’ll need, how to master your personal statement, stay on top of the application database, and nail your interview. You’ll also get insight into tuition, financial aid, and whether this school is truly the right fit for you.
At Premed Catalyst, we know what it’s like to navigate the confusion of med school admissions. That’s why we created the resource we wish we had when we were premeds. Our Application Database gives you free access to 8 full AMCAS applications that got students accepted into top medical schools like UCLA and UCI. See what worked so you can craft your own acceptance-worthy application.
Get your free resource here.
For the 2025 entering class, the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio received 5,377 applications. Out of those, only 227 students matriculated.
That makes the Long School of Medicine acceptance rate about 4.22%.
That’s competitive, especially for an in-state public school. And thanks to Texas' top-ranked TMDSAS system, in-state applicants definitely have an edge. About 90% of matriculants are Texas residents, which means if you’re applying from out of state, your odds are significantly steeper.
UT Health doesn’t mess around when it comes to academic stats. The average GPA for accepted students? 3.93. The average MCAT? 518.
To put that in perspective, the national average GPA for med school matriculants is around 3.77, and the average MCAT hovers around 511.7. Long’s admitted students are well above both.
And while there’s no hard cutoff, if your GPA is below 3.3 or your MCAT scores dip below 507, you’re likely going to get overlooked.
To be considered for admission to UT Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine, applicants must complete the following prerequisites through TMDSAS:
In addition to coursework, applicants must:
They also require the CASPer situational judgment test. There’s no secondary application (a rare break), but you will need to pay a $200 processing fee through TMDSAS.
The Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio offers a relatively affordable path to becoming a physician, especially for Texas residents.
For the 2024–2025 academic year, tuition and fees come to about $27,684 for in-state students and $37,239 for out-of-state students.
When factoring in living expenses, books, and other necessities, the estimated total cost of attendance is around $55,174 for in-state and $64,729 for out-of-state students annually. Over four years, this brings the total projected cost to $194,312 for Texas residents and $261,743 for non-residents.
The good news: the majority of students receive some form of financial support. The Long School of Medicine offers a broad range of financial aid options. Incoming and current students can access institutional scholarships, competitive awards, and travel stipends, many of which are renewable throughout all four years.
To qualify, applicants must complete both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)—listing UT Health San Antonio as a school of choice—and the school’s internal scholarship application, which becomes available after registration.
At the heart of South Texas, the Long School of Medicine stands out not just for its comprehensive medical education but for its deep commitment to community health, cutting-edge research, and collaborative innovation.
Below is more about what makes this school a standout choice for premeds in Texas.
Long SOM is the foremost medical educator in South Texas, annually instructing over 900 medical students and training 800 residents, many of whom remain in the region to serve local communities.
Its strong affiliations with University Health System, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Brooke Army Medical Center, and the Mays Cancer Center ensure students experience hands-on learning across diverse and complex clinical settings.
The school’s CIRCLE Curriculum blends foundational sciences with real-world clinical experience from day one, fostering confidence and readiness that reflect in successful match rates and board scores.
This immersive, integrated approach helps you build practical skills early and consistently throughout the four-year MD program.
Long SOM shines in research, anchored by transformative institutes such as the NCI-designated Mays Cancer Center and the Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies. The Barshop Institute ranks #1 in National Institute on Aging funding among Texas institutions.
For students aiming to combine medicine with public health or groundbreaking research, Long SOM delivers exceptional dual-degree pathways. The MD/MPH program, offered with UTHealth Houston (and soon with San Antonio), equips students to lead in areas like global health, policy, and preventive medicine.
The prestigious MD–PhD (MSTP) program, NIH-funded, welcomes eight candidates annually, covering tuition and fees for their training.
Getting into the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine isn’t just about hitting the right numbers. It's about showing up with a story that actually means something. Stats might get you noticed, but it’s your lived experiences, your motivation, and how you’ve taken action that set you apart.
In the sections ahead, we’ll break down exactly what you need to get accepted into this specific school.
The Long School of Medicine does not use AMCAS. Instead, Texas-based applicants must apply via TMDSAS, which is the centralized Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service.
Long SOM does operate on a rolling review basis, which means every day you wait is putting your seat at risk.
But there’s good news. There is no secondary application required. You just need to submit your TMDSAS primary, and once your application is complete (including MCAT & transcripts), you may receive an invitation for the CASPer exam and a one-way video interview.
Below is a deeper dive into the application timeline:
Your personal statement for the Long School of Medicine is your narrative.
But what does that mean? It means it’s not your resume. It’s your voice, story, and your why.
And the only way for AdComs to believe what you write is to use your experiences as your proof. If you say you care about health equity, then you should show experiences in free clinics and outreach programs. If you say mentorship matters to you, show us the students you’ve uplifted.
No vague ambition. You have to show receipts.
Secondary essays are typically a huge part of medical school admissions. They show AdComs who you are beyond stats. But the Long School of Medicine does not require written secondary essays in its application process.
Since there are no written secondaries, your opportunity to shine shifts to other areas:
For the Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio, letters of recommendation are submitted through TMDSAS and are a required part of the application, but the school doesn’t provide specific guidance on how many letters are needed. That means you’ll want to follow the general TMDSAS guidelines unless you get direct clarification from the school.
TMDSAS allows you to submit either a committee letter, which most med schools prefer. If your school doesn’t offer a committee letter, you can also submit three individual letters. TMDSAS guidelines also allow you to submit one additional letter for a total of four. But don’t just submit because you can. Any additional letters should add something to the conversation.
The interview format here is traditional, not MMI. On your interview day, expect a conversation with two people: one faculty member and one medical student.
This happens virtually over Zoom (Fridays, sometimes Tuesdays, between August and December). It starts around 8:45 am (Central) and wraps up by about 2:00 pm. There will be plenty of student interaction, virtual tours, and rare group events like a mini org fair.
And as an added bonus, they'll pair you with a Cycle Buddy who is a current Long med student, who’s there beyond the interview to answer your lingering questions.
Medical schools aren’t one‑size‑fits‑all. What feels like a perfect match for one student might not be right for another. Schools vary in culture, strengths, priorities, and community focus.
So, is the Long School of Medicine really the right fit for you?
The Long School of Medicine is a good fit if...
The Long School of Medicine may not be a good fit if...
If Long School of Medicine is on your radar, that’s a strong start, but relying on just one school is one of the most common and costly mistakes premeds make. Texas is home to some of the most applicant-friendly and affordable med schools in the country.
Below, you’ll find guides we’ve created for other Texas med schools so you can build your list the smart way.
University of Texas Medical Branch
If you’ve made it this far, you already know how competitive the Long School of Medicine can be. Numbers alone don’t guarantee an acceptance. What really moves the needle is how you tell your story.
But how do you do that?
At Premed Catalyst, we built a free resource to show you how. You’ll get access to 8 full AMCAS applications that earned acceptances at top medical schools like UCLA and UCI. You’ll see the exact essays, activities, and narratives that worked, so you can model your own application with clarity and confidence.
Get your free resource here.
