September 6, 2025
Written By
Michael Minh Le
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The University of Houston medical school acceptance rate can feel like a wall standing between you and your white coat. The real question isn’t just whether you want it badly enough. It’s whether you’ve actually done enough to be competitive. Do your stats measure up? Have you built the right kind of experiences? Are you telling the story that the UH AdCom is looking for?
This guide breaks down everything: how hard it is to get into UH College of Medicine, what GPA and MCAT you need, what this AdCom is actually looking for, and how to approach every part of the admissions process from secondaries to the interview. You'll also get insight into tuition, financial aid, and how UH compares to other med schools in Texas.
But the fastest way to understand what a successful application looks like? See the real thing. Our free Application Database includes 8 full AMCAS applications that earned acceptances to top med schools like UCLA and UCI. It even includes my own. Use it to model your application on what actually works.
Get the free database here.
For the 2025 entering class, the University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine received 4,799 applications. Of those, just 60 students matriculated.
That makes the University of Houston Medical School acceptance rate about 1.25%.
That's not a typo. That kind of selectivity puts UH College of Medicine in the same league as the most competitive medical schools in the country. And while it’s a public school, it’s not necessarily a safer bet for Texans: roughly 95% of the class are Texas residents, which means even in-state applicants are facing steep odds.
Let’s talk numbers. The average GPA for accepted students? 3.75. The average MCAT? 505.
That’s a bit lower than the national med school average (3.84 GPA, 511.7 MCAT), but don’t let that fool you. UHCOM is looking for more than just stats. They’re big on mission fit, especially when it comes to serving underserved communities.
Still, it’s a competitive game. Students with GPAs below 3.4 or MCAT scores under 500 are going to have a hard time standing out.
To be eligible for UH College of Medicine, applicants should have completed the following coursework:
In addition to your coursework, you’ll need to:
The University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine offers one of the most affordable medical educations in the country, especially for Texas residents.
For the 2024–2025 academic year, in-state tuition and fees are around $24,268, while out-of-state students pay around $37,368. When factoring in living expenses, books, supplies, and transportation, the estimated total cost of attendance (COA) reaches about $56,162 for Texas residents and $69,262 for non-residents.
This pricing makes UH’s medical school significantly more affordable than both the national average medical school cost (over $60,000 annually) and the average among other public Texas medical schools. UH’s affordability is part of its larger mission to reduce barriers for students pursuing service-oriented careers in medicine.
Beyond its affordable tuition, UH provides multiple opportunities for financial aid support. Students can apply for internal scholarships offered by the College of Medicine, though specific award amounts may vary from year to year. There are also external scholarship opportunities, including the AAMC’s Herbert W. Nickens Medical Student Scholarship, the Physicians of Tomorrow Awards, and the National Medical Fellowships program, which focuses on supporting underrepresented minority students.
Those pursuing military or public service routes may also qualify for the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship or National Health Service Corps (NHSC) programs, though participation may exclude students from receiving internal UH scholarships.
In a state already home to some of the most competitive medical schools in the country, the University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine stands out. And it’s not just because it's the oldest or most research-heavy, but because of its bold mission, community-first focus, and innovative approach to training the next generation of physicians.
Unlike many medical schools that steer students toward high-paying specialties, UHCOM was built from the ground up with a clear mission: to address Texas’s critical shortage of primary care physicians. The school is intentionally designed to train doctors who want to work in rural, urban, and medically underserved areas.
Rather than isolating students in lecture halls for years, UHCOM embraces hands-on, community-based clinical exposure from day one. Through the Longitudinal Primary Care program, students are paired with clinical sites and physicians early in their training, fostering real relationships with patients and gaining authentic insight into community health.
The UHCOM curriculum blends cutting-edge science with practical, mission-aligned training. Students engage in problem-based learning, community health immersion, and population health sciences. Courses in behavioral health, social determinants of health, and health equity aren’t electives. They’re required. And the emphasis on interprofessional collaboration helps students understand their role in the broader healthcare system.
Despite being one of the newest medical schools in Texas, UHCOM has big plans. With strategic partnerships across Houston’s healthcare systems and an expanding clinical network, the school is quickly positioning itself as a leader in community-focused medical education. Its long-term vision includes developing physician leaders who are as committed to advocacy and health policy as they are to patient care.
Getting into the University of Houston College of Medicine isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being real. They’re not looking for robots with 4.0s and 528s; they want future doctors who show up, do the work, and care deeply about their communities. You’ve got to tell a story that proves you’re that kind of applicant.
UHCOM does not use rolling admissions in the traditional sense. Instead, they follow the structured TMDSAS (Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service) timeline, which includes fixed opening and closing dates, and predetermined interview and decision phases.
Below is more about the application timeline you can expect when applying:
Your personal statement for the University of Houston College of Medicine isn’t just another place to describe your resume. It’s where you show who you are, what you care about, and the type of doctor you’re becoming.
The key to this essay? Use your experiences as your proof.
If you say you care about serving underserved communities, then you should show experiences in free clinics, community outreach, or public health work. If you claim you value innovation, then highlight research, leadership, or projects where you built something new.
Secondary essays give this AdCom insight into how your experiences and values align with their mission, especially their focus on primary care, service to underserved communities, and holistic traits like resilience and teamwork.
Below are the prompts from the most recent application cycle (2025–2026), along with how to tackle each one.
(Yes/No questions):
(If "Yes" to any above):
Describe the setting (urban/inner city; suburban; rural); your role and responsibilities; and approximate date range for each experience you indicated. (300 characters per entry)
How to address:
For each “Yes,” this is a speed round. Just the facts. Be specific about the setting, your role, and when it happened. No fluff, no reflection. Think of it like a resume bullet. It should be tight, clear, and focused on impact. If “No,” say N/A and move on.
Prompt: Why are you interested in the primary care field(s) and care of the community as a whole? (2500 characters)
How to address:
This is the meat of your secondary, so you can’t waste a single word. Lead with a personal experience or “aha” moment that made you realize the power of primary care or community health. Then walk them through the journey: what you did, what you learned, and how it shaped your values. Finish strong by connecting your story directly to UH’s mission. Show them you’re not just checking a box. You’ve lived this. Keep it focused, reflective, and real.
At the University of Houston College of Medicine, applicants are required to submit a minimum of three letters of recommendation through TMDSAS. While three is the baseline, submitting more than five is rarely necessary and could even hurt you if they don’t say anything new.
This AdCom places strong emphasis on quality over quantity. Of those three letters, at least two should come from academic sources, with a strong preference for science faculty who have taught you directly and can speak to your resilience, intellectual curiosity, and how you handle setbacks.
UH also strongly recommends applicants take advantage of a Committee Letter if available through your institution’s Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC). This letter doesn’t replace your individual recommendations; it weaves them into a unified narrative, showing how your academic and personal growth align with the mission of UH Med, especially their focus on serving underserved communities.
If a committee letter isn’t available, that’s okay. You’ll just submit your letters individually through TMDSAS or Interfolio.
The University of Houston College of Medicine uses a traditional interview format, not MMI. You’ll be scheduled for one-on-one or panel interviews with faculty, admissions staff, or local physicians. Each interview usually lasts between 30 and 60 minutes.
Expect open-ended questions like “tell me about yourself,” along with scenario-based or behavioral questions where they’ll want to see how you think, how you handle pressure, and how well you reflect.
This school cares deeply about underserved communities and training doctors in primary care. Be ready to talk about your commitment to service, your experiences with health disparities, and why you want to work in communities like the ones they focus on.
And one last tip: know your application inside and out. There’s nothing worse than not knowing your own story.
Forget all the noise about prestige. What really matters is if a medical school aligns with your career goals, values, and learning preferences.
Here's how the University of Houston’s Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine stacks up:
University of Houston College of Medicine is a good fit if...
University of Houston College of Medicine May Not Be a Good Fit If...
If you’re applying to the University of Houston College of Medicine, chances are you’re also considering other medical schools in Texas. That’s smart. Texas is one of the most competitive states for med school admissions.
Below, you’ll find our guides to other medical schools in Texas so you can start building a school list that matches your career goals.
University of Texas Medical Branch
If you’re serious about getting into a school like the University of Houston, here’s the brutal truth: wanting it isn’t enough. The UH AdCom won’t be moved by passion alone. They’re looking for proof that you’ve built the right foundation, that your story makes sense, and that your application actually stands out in a sea of other qualified premeds.
You can spend months guessing what that looks like or you can learn from applicants who’ve already made it. Our free Application Database gives you insider access to 8 full AMCAS applications that earned real acceptances to top-tier medical schools across the country, including UCLA, UCI, and more.
You’ll see how they structured their activities, what they wrote in their personal statements, and more, so you’re not building your application in the dark.
Get your free resource here.
