SDN Logo
 
 

East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine

Johnson City, TN

Allopathic Medical Schools Public Non-Profit

🩺 School Overview

Tuition (In State): $35,012

Tuition (Out of State): $44,862

Accreditation Status: Full

Acceptance Rate: N/A

Total Enrollment: 72

Degrees: MD

Founding Year: 1974

Accreditation Year: 1978

Website: https://www.etsu.edu

Has any information changed? Click here to report an update.

📄 Application Information

Applications Received: N/A

Interviews Granted: N/A

Admitted: N/A

Average MCAT: 511

Average GPA: 3.68

Male: N/A

Female: N/A

Underrepresented:N/A

Interview Feedback Summary

Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 24% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview mixed with a low stress level, and felt they did well.

School Review Summary

Insufficient reviews to generate a summary. Add your review!

5 Most Common Secondary Essay Questions for ETSU-QCOM


  • 1. Career Goals and Future Aspirations – What makes you interested in Quillen? Discuss how attending Quillen aligns with your future goals and shapes you as a physician. (1500 characters)
  • 2. Community, Diversity, and Equity – Social justice, systemic racism, and equity for all have been central themes. Please share your reflections on how your life experiences have shaped your values and attitudes toward others. (1500...
  • 3. Other – Applicant choice: Select one of the provided questions to answer. (1500 characters)
  • 4. Motivation and Fit – The Quillen College of Medicine has a specific mission. What are your personal and professional goals as a future healthcare provider, and how do these goals align with the Quillen mission?
  • 5. Motivation and Fit – Quillen College of Medicine's curriculum is uniquely designed to foster excellence in clinical practice through active in-person participation and peer co-learning. This approach requires individual...

About the School

Established in 1974, the James H. Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is located in Johnson City, Tennessee. As one of two public medical schools in the state, it was founded with a mission to train physicians, particularly in primary care, to serve rural and underserved communities in the Appalachian region . The college is part of ETSU’s Academic Health Sciences Center, which includes the Colleges of Nursing, Public Health, Pharmacy, and Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences . Quillen College of Medicine is recognized nationally for its focus on rural medicine and primary care training.

Curriculum

The Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program at Quillen College of Medicine is a four-year curriculum designed to prepare students as skilled clinicians, compassionate physicians, and servant leaders . The curriculum emphasizes early clinical exposure, with students engaging in clinical experiences during the first month of medical school . Key features include a two-semester preceptorship in the first year, a one-semester preceptorship in the second year, and a required two-year interprofessional education component during the preclerkship phase . The curriculum also incorporates team-based learning, active learning pedagogies, and recorded lectures for asynchronous viewing . Additionally, students have the option to pursue specialized tracks such as the Rural Primary Care Track (RPCT).

Facilities

Quillen College of Medicine offers students access to a comprehensive network of clinical training facilities. Clinical instruction is provided through partnerships with Ballad Health system hospitals, the James H. Quillen Mountain Home VA Medical Center, LeConte Medical Center, and ETSU Health clinics . The college benefits from a hospital patient base of over 2,000 teaching beds and averages more than 189,000 outpatient clinical visits per year . These facilities offer a wide range of specialties and subspecialties, including medicine, surgery, women’s health, pediatrics, and psychiatry.

Demographics

As of the 2024-2025 academic year, Quillen College of Medicine has an enrollment of approximately 322 students, with a nearly equal gender distribution: 160 men and 162 women . The college maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio of 0.8:1, supported by 246 full-time faculty members . The average MCAT score for the incoming class is 510 . The college places a strong emphasis on admitting students committed to primary care and serving rural and underserved populations, aligning with its mission to improve healthcare in the Appalachian region.

SDN Insights

Our analysis of ETSU-QCOM:

💰

Student Loan Burden: $282,977

A student taking student loans for all 4 years of medical school at ETSU-QCOM, including tuition, fees, locally adjusted cost of living expenses, incidentals, and interest, can expect to have total student loans of $282,977. Estimate repayment with the SDN School Loan Repayment Calculator.

⚖️

Cost of Living: Lower than 79% Nationally

The cost of living at ETSU-QCOM is lower than 79% of all medical schools nationwide. This can significantly reduce your overall expenses during medical school, making it a more affordable option.

🌳

Environment: Urban

The area surrounding ETSU-QCOM 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.

Why no Tier Rankings?

Although we could tier rank, over the past 25 years we've found no compelling benefit for ranking schools. Students are most successful when they prioritize personal and academic fit over school rank.