School Overview
- Degrees
- DO
- Ownership
- Public Non-Profit
- Program Length
- 4 years
- Total Enrollment
- 162
- Accreditation Status
- Accreditation with Exceptional Outcome
- Founding Year
- 2020
- Accreditation Year
- 2023
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SDN Insights
Cost of Attendance: $277,283
Estimate repayment
Estimated loan burden for SHSU-COM using 4 years of in-state tuition, $1,500 annual fees, $3,000 monthly living expenses, government-derived local cost-of-living adjustment, $1,000 loan fees, and an 8.5% interest assumption.
Cost of Living: Near national average cost of living
Conroe, TX is close to the national average for cost of living. In the debt estimate, the government-derived local cost adjustment keeps the $3,000 monthly allowance at about $2,970 per month. Treat this as a city-level budgeting estimate, not the school's official cost of attendance.
Environment: Urban
The area surrounding SHSU-COM is best navigated by car, with few amenities within walking or biking distance. While this quieter environment may offer fewer distractions, it requires a bit more planning for everyday errands or exploring local offerings.
Interview Feedback
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 46% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a moderate stress level and felt they did okay.
Secondary Essays for SHSU-COM
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About the School
Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU-COM), established in 2019, is the eighth college of Sam Houston State University and the third osteopathic medical school in Texas. Located in Conroe, Texas, SHSU-COM focuses on preparing students for the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree, emphasizing primary care and rural practice. The college aims to develop culturally aware, diverse, and compassionate physicians who adhere to osteopathic principles and are prepared for graduate medical education. In April 2024, SHSU-COM achieved Accreditation with Exceptional Outcomes from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), the highest level of accreditation, granting 10 years of academic approval.
Curriculum
SHSU-COM offers a vertically and horizontally integrated, systems-based curriculum that combines biomedical sciences and clinical education. The program employs various teaching modalities, including lectures, small group sessions, case-based learning, clinical practice, simulation, and active learning, to ensure comprehensive mastery of medical concepts. Research, ethics, statistics, and osteopathic principles and practices are embedded throughout the curriculum. The first two years are conducted on campus, while the third and fourth years involve clinical rotations at selected sites, providing students with real-world experience in rural and underserved communities.
Facilities
The SHSU-COM campus features a five-story, 108,000-square-foot building situated on a 7.3-acre property in Conroe, Texas. The facility includes a Simulation Center, Standardized Patient Suite, large Teaching Theater, active learning classroom, small group rooms, anatomy lab, research labs, Osteopathic Clinical Skills Training Room, and dedicated student spaces. A future phase two expansion is planned to add another 108,000 square feet and a parking garage. The campus is designed to support the college's mission of addressing the shortage of primary care physicians in rural East Texas.
Demographics
As of fall 2024, SHSU-COM anticipates an enrollment of 568 students, comprising 162 freshmen, 164 sophomores, 140 juniors, and 102 seniors. The college receives approximately 2,000 applications annually, interviews around 750 applicants, and plans to accept 162 students into each class starting in fall 2024. In March 2024, 100% of the inaugural class secured residency placements, with 62% remaining in Texas and 58% pursuing primary care specialties, aligning with the college's mission to improve healthcare access in rural communities.
Last Updated: Sep 04, 2026
