University of Texas McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Admissions, Tuition & Student Feedback

School Overview

Degrees: MD
Ownership: Public Non-Profit
Program Length: 4 years
Total Enrollment: 240
Founding Year: 1969
Accreditation Year: 1970

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SDN Insights

Cost of Attendance: $253,773

Estimate repayment

Estimated loan burden for UT-Houston 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

Houston, 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

With a combination of walkable pockets and strong biking infrastructure, the area near UT-Houston offers decent flexibility. Students can often walk to essentials and comfortably bike to destinations a bit farther afield.

Interview Feedback

Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 18% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.

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Secondary Essays for UT-Houston

1. Motivation and Fit

Discuss one of the following: a challenging situation/obstacle or academic road bumps, including why it was challenging and what you learned. (2500 characters)

2. Other

Describe a time when you were unsuccessful or failed. What did you learn and how have you applied that learning? (2500 characters)

3. Personal Experiences and Challenges

From what you understand about medical school, what do you think will be your biggest challenge and how are you prepared for it? (2500 characters)

4. Understanding and Commitment to Medicine

What hesitations or reservations, if any, do you have about joining the medical profession? (2500 characters)

5. Personal Experiences and Challenges

Question 1: (2500 character limit) Please discuss one of the following: a challenging situation or obstacle you have faced in the past, or any academic setbacks in your academic career (such as low...

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About the School

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) is a public academic health science center established in 1972 by The University of Texas System Board of Regents. Located in the Texas Medical Center—the largest medical center globally—UTHealth Houston comprises six schools: McGovern Medical School, the UTHealth School of Dentistry, the Cizik School of Nursing, the UTHealth School of Public Health, the UTHealth School of Biomedical Informatics, and the UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. The institution is dedicated to health care education, innovative research, and excellence in patient care.

Curriculum

McGovern Medical School, the 11th-largest medical school in the United States, offers a curriculum grounded in humanism and respect for each patient. The school provides a high-tech educational experience with a focus on quality, wellness, and career development. Students have opportunities for patient care, research, and collaboration within the Texas Medical Center. The curriculum includes annual traditions such as a Student Retreat for incoming students, White Coat Ceremony, Student Clinician Ceremony, Match Day, and Commencement.

Facilities

UTHealth Houston's campus spans more than 7 million square feet of state-of-the-art clinical, research, training, and administrative space across 127 buildings. The institution's primary teaching hospitals include Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, and Harris Health Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital. Additionally, the campus features the Jane and Robert Cizik School of Nursing building, which opened in October 2004 and received LEED Gold certification in 2009 for its environmentally friendly design.

Demographics

As of Fall 2020, UTHealth Houston enrolled 4,372 students, with 84.15% being Texas residents, 9.16% international students, and 6.68% from out-of-state. The student body was composed of 70.73% female and 29.26% male students. Ethnic demographics included 34% White, 19% Asian, 18% Hispanic, 12% Black, 10% International, 4% Unidentified, 3% Multi-racial, and less than 1% each for American Indian and Pacific Islander students.

Last Updated: Aug 21, 2026