Galveston, TX
School Overview
Tuition (In State): $27,000
Tuition (Out of State): $42,014
Accreditation Status: N/A
Acceptance Rate: N/A
Total Enrollment: 230
Degrees: MD
Founding Year: 1891
Accreditation Year: 1942
Website: https://som.utmb.edu
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Application Information
Average MCAT: 511
Average GPA: 3.8
Male: N/A
Female: N/A
Interview Feedback Summary
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 30% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
School Review Summary
Overall, students rated the program a 6.5 out of 10 for satisfaction. The student body is described as highly cooperative. The environment is considered supportive for underrepresented minorities, LGBTQ+ students, married students, students with disabilities, non-traditional students. Faculty members are seen as reasonably approachable.
5 Most Common Secondary Essay Questions for UTMB
- 1. Motivation and Fit – Choose two of the following prompts to respond to: Describe a time when you learned in a team, a time when you made a mistake, a time of scientific inquiry, or attributes you look for in a physician....
- 2. Leadership and Teamwork – Describe a time when you learned in a team. How will this experience help you as a medical student? 2. Describe a time when you made a mistake. How did you acknowledge it, respond to it, and...
- 3. Community, Diversity, and Equity – Describe a time when you advocated for someone whose social identity (e.g., race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, ability status, etc.) differed from your own. Explain the...
- 4. Personal Experiences and Challenges – Describe a time when you were wrong. Why were you wrong, and how did you respond?
- 5. Personal Attributes and Characteristics – How do you define curiosity? Provide an example of how curiosity helped you solve a problem or expand your knowledge and experience outside of an academic environment.
About the School
The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, established in 1891, is the oldest medical school in Texas. It has expanded from a single building to a comprehensive health sciences center with over 70 buildings, more than 2,500 students, and over 1,000 faculty members. UTMB comprises five schools: Medicine, Nursing, Health Professions, Public and Population Health, and Graduate Biomedical Sciences. The institution is part of the University of Texas System and a member of the Texas Medical Center.
Curriculum
There are three major characteristics of the Integrated Medical Curriculum that are designed to aid learning and build life-long learning skills. 1. Basic science material is integrated across disciplines. For example, rather than learning about membranes in one course (Physiology) and cell signaling in another course (Biochemistry), material will be presented in Molecules Cells and Tissues that integrates membrane structure and function with cell-signaling concepts. This holistic approach should make it easier for students to understand and learn the material. 2. Basic science material is integrated with clinical science material. Each week's topic is linked to one or more clinical cases that may be presented as problems to solve. Thus, students immediately use the basic science material in a clinical setting, applying it in a problem-solving mode. This will not only make learning more interesting, it will aid retention of the material. As the curriculum progresses into the second year, the clinical cases become more complex, enabling students to both review and build their knowledge base. 3. The problem-solving challenges are designed to foster independent learning and build life-long learning skills. The more actively involved students are in the learning experience, the more they will retain. This will serve students well as they continue to learn throughout their careers.
Facilities
UTMB's Galveston campus features four hospitals: Jennie Sealy Hospital, John Sealy Hospital, Children's Hospital, and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Hospital. The campus also houses the Galveston National Laboratory, a Biosafety Level 4 facility dedicated to infectious disease research. Additionally, UTMB includes a major medical library and numerous research facilities, supporting its mission in education, research, and patient care.
Last Updated: Oct 23, 2025
SDN Insights
Our analysis of UTMB:
Cost of Attendance: $257,579
A student taking student loans for all 4 years at UTMB, including tuition, fees, locally adjusted cost of living expenses, incidentals, and interest, can expect to have total student loans of $257,579. Estimate repayment with the SDN School Loan Repayment Calculator.
Cost of Living: Lower than 85% Nationally
The cost of living at UTMB is lower than 85% of all similar schools nationwide. This can significantly reduce your overall expenses during your time at the school, making it a more affordable option.
Environment: Large Rural
Nestled in an area with excellent walkability and strong biking infrastructure, UTMB offers students flexibility in how they get around. Whether on foot or bike, most destinations are easily accessible, making for a convenient daily routine.
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.
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