East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine
Johnson City, TN
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School Detail
APPLICATION FEE
$50
Tuition In State
$38,858
Tuition Out of State
$49,802
Average GPA
3.77
AVERAGE MCAT
509
School Overview
- Degrees
- MD
- Ownership
- Public Non-Profit
- Program Length
- 4 years
- Total Enrollment
- 72
- Founding Year
- 1974
- Accreditation Year
- 1978
- Alternative Length
- 3 years
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SDN Insights
Cost of Attendance: $313,730
Estimate repayment
Estimated loan burden for ETSU-QCOM 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: Below national average cost of living
Johnson City, TN is about 0.88x the national average for cost of living. In the debt estimate, the government-derived local cost adjustment lowers the living allowance from $3,000 to about $2,640 per month. Local rent and commuting choices can still move your actual budget meaningfully.
Environment: Urban
The neighborhood around ETSU-QCOM is relatively quiet and spread out, with limited walking or biking options. Most errands and outings will require a car, making this setting better suited for students with access to personal transportation.
Interview Feedback
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 24% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
Secondary Essays 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).
Quillen College of Medicine offers specialties in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics. Students who are interested in Tri-TRAILS must apply and be accepted to the Quillen College of Medicine. Students selected for Tri-TRAILS become part of a directed pathway to their chosen Quillen residency program.
Quillen College of Medicine offers specialties in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics. Students who are interested in Tri-TRAILS must apply and be accepted to the Quillen College of Medicine. Students selected for Tri-TRAILS become part of a directed pathway to their chosen Quillen residency program.
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.
Last Updated: May 21, 2026