10 Best Pre Med Schools in Texas

Are you looking for the best pre med schools in Texas? We get it. Choosing a school that will help you fulfill your dreams of becoming a health practitioner can be daunting especially when there are hundreds of options at your disposal. The competition to get into these schools is also tight and intense, adding to the pressure.

In this blog, we help you identify the best pre med schools in Texas and discuss what made them on the list. We also provide a comprehensive analysis of the factors you should consider when choosing a pre-med school.

• Top 10 Schools for Pre Med in Texas
• What Should You Consider When Choosing a Pre Med School?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Top 10 Schools for Pre Med in Texas

If you’re looking to start a career in the medical field, Texas has plenty of great options. While none of the schools offer a specific “pre med” major, they provide various programs, advising services, and resources to guide you through your undergrad as you work toward meeting medical school requirements.

With that being said, let’s take a look at the list of the ten best pre med schools in Texas:

1. University of Texas at Austin

• Location: Austin, Texas
• Acceptance Rate: 31.4%
• National Ranking: #30 (U.S. News and World Report)

UT Austin has a Health Professions Office that serves as a one-stop-shop for all things related to health profession pathways. If you’re in the College of Natural Science (CNS), you can even earn a Pre-Health Professions Certificate. This helps you meet the requirements for health-related professional programs. This option isn’t limited to CNS majors—students from other majors can also work toward earning the certificate.

Before heading to med school, you’ll have over 156 different undergrad degree programs to choose from, so you can explore academic areas outside of health care if you want. And yes, with around 50,000 students, the competition can be intense, but it also motivates you to find unique ways to stand out.

To help with that, there are more than 25 different pre-health student organizations where you can connect with others who share your passion for health professions. These groups are great for building a network of students with the same academic outlook and goals.

You’re also highly encouraged to take advantage of the school’s connections with local clinics and hospitals around Austin, like Dell Children’s Medical Center, the Heart Hospital of Austin, Texas Osteopathic Medical Association, and more. These partnerships open doors to clinical volunteer experiences, making it one of the best pre med schools in Texas.

2. Baylor University

• Location: Waco, Texas
• Acceptance Rate: 45.9%
• National Ranking: #91 (U.S. News and World Report)

Baylor’s Pre-med/Pre-dental Advisory Committee is set up to help students apply to medical and dental schools by providing personalized interviews and evaluations. They create a composite evaluation based on your interview and application materials, and then send it off to the schools you’ve chosen through the Pre-Health Office. These evaluations really help students stand out when applying to their dream medical programs.

The committee also runs the “Baylor Square” program with Baylor College of Medicine. Each year, they narrow down a few hundred incoming freshmen to about 50-60 who get to interview with faculty. From there, four students are chosen for provisional acceptance to Baylor College of Medicine, and one lucky student receives an $80,000 scholarship.

These programs are in addition to the regular pre-med advising the committee offers, which provides you with plenty of support as you work toward your goals. Lastly, Baylor has several Prehealth Research Programs for undergrads looking to get hands-on experience in the medical field. Baylor is definitely one of the best pre med schools in Texas.

3. Rice University

• Location: Houston, Texas
• Acceptance Rate: 8.7%
• National Ranking: #19 (U.S. News and World Report)

Rice, considered one of the top universities in the country and one of the best pre med schools in Texas, offers some standout pre-med programs. One of the most notable is the Rice/Baylor Medical Scholars Program, where six incoming freshmen are chosen each year to earn a four-year degree at Rice with guaranteed admission to Baylor College of Medicine after graduation.

Pre-med advising at Rice is tailored to each student, which gives you the resources and guidance to stay on track and increase your chances of getting into med school.

The Rice Pre-Medical Society (RPMS) also provides awesome opportunities for pre-med students. Their Big Owl/Little Owl Program pairs you up with mentors, including current med students, doctors, residents, and med school committee members. They also host an annual Medical Speaker Conference, where you can hear from physicians and healthcare leaders, ask questions, and network with professionals in the field.

Rice University is known to be one of the best pre med schools in Texas due to its excellent guidance, resources, and community support.

4. Southern Methodist University

• Location: Dallas, Texas
• Acceptance Rate: 52.3%
• National Ranking: #89 (U.S. News and World Report)

SMU’s impressive 70% med school acceptance rate in 2024 stands out, especially when you consider the variety of majors among those accepted. These included everything from biochemistry and business to accounting, journalism, history, and even mathematics. It really proves that you can major in just about anything you’re passionate about and still have a solid chance of getting into med school.

As a pre-med student at SMU, you’ll have plenty of volunteer opportunities in the Dallas area. You can give back by serving at North Dallas Shared Ministries, which provides emergency services to the homeless and underserved, or with the DFW Area Health Education Center (AHEC), which helps bring healthcare to underserved communities.

There are also lots of options for clinical volunteering, with SMU students working at places like Agape Clinic, Baylor Health Care System, Parkland Hospital, Texas Children’s Hospital, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. These connections place SMU among the best pre med schools in Texas.

5. Trinity University

• Location: San Antonio, Texas
• Acceptance Rate: 26%
• National Ranking (Liberal Arts): #59 (U.S. News and World Report)

An impressive 90% of Trinity students with at least a 3.6 GPA get accepted into med school, which is pretty amazing for a small liberal arts university. This stat puts Trinity on par with big names like Yale when it comes to preparing students for both the med school application process and med school itself.

Trinity backs up its pre-med students with peer tutors for every required course, and with a student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1, you’ll get great letters of recommendation. Most classes are small, with fewer than 20 students, which means more personalized attention.

The school’s chapter of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) helps students connect with shadowing, volunteer, and networking opportunities. Some of the key pre-med courses at Trinity include Health, Illness, and Society; Biomedical Ethics; and Health Economics. These interdisciplinary courses are designed to help future doctors understand not just health issues, but also the broader social and economic challenges their patients may face, making Trinity one of the best pre med schools in Texas.

6. University of Houston

• Location: Houston, Texas
• Acceptance Rate: 70%
• National Ranking: #133 (U.S. News and World Report)

The University of Houston created the Medicine & Society minor to help pre-med students understand healthcare through a broader lens of historical, economic, and cultural factors. This interdisciplinary program is open to all UH undergrads and takes advantage of its location near the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest medical complex.

Students in the program have the chance to intern at places like the Texas Medical Center, Abramson Center for the Future of Health, UH’s Center for Public History, and the John P. McGovern Historical Collections and Research Center.

There are also plenty of clinical and research opportunities through partnerships with Memorial Health System of East Texas, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Hospital, and the Research Medical Library at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. UH’s strategic location and partnerships make it one of the best pre med schools in Texas.

7. Texas Woman’s University

• Location: Denton, Texas
• Acceptance Rate: 94%
• National Ranking: #332 (U.S. News and World Report)

TWU became co-ed in 1972, but it’s still 90% female, continuing its strong focus on preparing women for careers in healthcare, education, nutrition, business, and the arts and sciences.

For pre-med students, TWU offers a couple of tailored degree plans: the Biology B.S. with a Pre-Health track and the Biochemistry B.S. with a Pre-Health track. You can still pursue a pre-med minor if you’re majoring in something outside of natural sciences.

These programs are designed to help you complete all the necessary pre-med coursework and keep you on track through the med school application process. TWU also offers a unique course just for pre-med students called BIOL4903: Medical Career Preparation. It’s taught by a practicing doctor and walks you through the entire med school application journey, making it one of the best pre med schools in Texas.

8. Texas Christian University

• Location: Fort Worth, Texas
• Acceptance Rate: 56.1%
• National Ranking: #98 (U.S. News and World Report)

TCU’s impressive 89% med school acceptance rate is thanks to its challenging coursework, access to high-impact clinical and volunteer experiences, and personalized advising from mentors in departments like Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Physics, and Astronomy.

At this private university, faculty members have an open-door policy, meaning you can drop by whenever you need guidance. This close-knit environment helps professors write strong, detailed letters of recommendation, which are key for med school applications.

Twice a month, TCU brings in a local healthcare professional or admissions dean to give a lecture, and they offer seminars like Global Health and Ethical Traveler.

Students are also well-connected to over 15 clinical institutions in the Fort Worth area. Through the student-run Pre-Health Observation Program, you can shadow physicians and physician assistants in various specialties, such as emergency medicine, gynecological oncology, orthopedic surgery, neonatology, gastroenterology, pathology, and pediatric neurology, making TCU one of the best pre med schools in Texas.

9. Southwestern University

• Location: Georgetown, Texas
• Acceptance Rate: 44.8%
• National Ranking (Liberal Arts): #83 (U.S. News and World Report)

Southwestern University has an impressive 70% acceptance rate for first-time applicants to medical, dental, and veterinary schools. Along with support for the MCAT, application materials, and interviews, SU students also get valuable hands-on experience through internships and research positions at local medical institutions.

At places like Houston Methodist Hospital, St. David’s Medical Center, and the University of Texas Health Science Center, you’ll get real-world experience in patient care and can explore different healthcare professions to see what’s right for you.

Thanks to these opportunities, SU students have a higher med school acceptance rate than the national average, which is around 43%. While most pre-med students major in natural sciences, SU offers 40 other majors and 36 minors, giving you plenty of room to explore other academic interests. This makes Southwestern University one of the best pre med schools in Texas.

10. University of Texas at Tyler

• Location: Tyler, Texas
• Acceptance Rate: 94%
• National Ranking (Liberal Arts): #361 (U.S. News and World Report)

If you’re on a pre-med track, UT Tyler is a great place to study. As a medium-sized public research university, it benefits from the resources and funding of the University of Texas system, giving you access to top-tier opportunities.

The Pre-Med Academy at UT Tyler, which launched in 2019, supports students interested in various healthcare fields, including medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, physical therapy, and more. Although the academy itself is fairly new, UT Tyler has been preparing pre-med students for years.

This program gives you a better shot at getting into med school and prepares you for the challenges of medical education. They even run outreach workshops for East Texas high school students who are curious about careers in medicine.

As a pre-med student, you’ll get access to exclusive symposia covering topics like altruism and ethics, clinical shadowing and research opportunities, and personalized advising from the moment you start through to your med school acceptance. This makes UT Tyler one of the best pre med schools in Texas.

What Should You Consider When Choosing A Pre Med School?

Becoming a doctor is a long and challenging journey, and it all begins with your undergraduate education. A solid pre-med program is key—it gives you the knowledge, resources, and support needed to ace the MCAT, gain important clinical experience, and build a strong med school application.

A great pre-med education helps you sharpen your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. These are crucial for tackling the MCAT and beyond.

Choosing the right and best universities for pre med sets the stage for your medical career. These schools offer top-notch advising, plenty of research opportunities, and connections with alumni and professionals in the healthcare world that can open doors for you.

Consider the following factors when you are narrowing down your options among the best pre med schools in Texas:

• Academic rigor and course offerings. Look for a school with strong science programs—biology, chemistry, and physics are essential. You’ll want courses that challenge you and prepare you well for the MCAT and med school prerequisites. Schools that offer dedicated pre-health tracks or advisors are a bonus since they’ll help guide your coursework and ensure you’re meeting med school requirements.
• Advising and support systems. Personalized advising is a game-changer for pre-med students. A school with a solid pre-med advising office or pre-health programs can help with everything from choosing the right classes to preparing for the MCAT and navigating med school applications. Having mentors who are invested in your success greatly helps to stay on track.
• Research and clinical opportunities. Med schools, such as the best pre med schools in Texas, want to see hands-on experience, so pick a school with strong ties to local hospitals, clinics, and research centers. Internships, volunteer work, and shadowing opportunities will give you real-world experience that can make your med school application stand out.
• Med school acceptance rate. It’s worth checking out a school’s success rate in getting students into med school. While it’s not a guarantee, a higher acceptance rate often means the school does a great job preparing students. Some schools even offer special programs that guarantee interviews or conditional acceptances into affiliated med schools, which can give you a leg up.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the best pre-med major?

There’s no “best” pre-med major, but the secret is to choose something you’re passionate about while also fulfilling the required science courses (biology, chemistry, physics). There are no specific premed programs in Texas, but many pre med students opt for majors in biology, biochemistry, or neuroscience since they align with med school prerequisites.

Moreover, it’s also completely possible to major in something like English or psychology as long as you complete the necessary science coursework. Med schools value well-rounded applicants, so pick a major you enjoy and excel in.

2. What college should I go to if I want to be a doctor in Texas?

If you want to be a doctor in Texas, some of the best pre med schools in Texas to consider are the University of Texas at Austin, Rice University, Baylor University, and Southern Methodist University (SMU).

These schools offer strong pre-med programs with access to top-notch advising, research, and clinical opportunities. UT Austin and Texas A&M also have close ties with Texas medical schools. Ultimately, choose a school that fits your needs academically and personally while offering the right pre-med resources.

3. What is the best medical school in Texas?

The best medical school in Texas is often considered to be Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. It’s nationally ranked, offers a wide range of medical programs, and is part of the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest medical complex. UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas also ranks high in medical schools in Texas due to its research and clinical training programs. Both schools are known for their strong reputations, high residency match rates, and connections to top healthcare facilities.

Takeaways

Pre med students in Texas have a wide range of degree options and extracurricular pathways. Even though there isn’t a designated “pre med” major, many schools offer flexible programs and advising services, allowing students to pursue various interests while meeting medical school prerequisites.

• Many of the top pre med schools in Texas provide strong connections to local hospitals and clinics. This helps students gain clinical experience and expands their professional networks. This is important when applying to medical schools.
• Schools like Baylor and Rice stand out for their tailored support systems, offering one-on-one advising, mentorship, and interview preparation.
• Some smaller or less nationally known schools, like Trinity University and Texas Christian University (TCU), have high med school acceptance rates due to their focused attention on student preparation, small class sizes, and strong faculty relationships.
• To help you narrow down your choices among these best pre med schools in Texas, consult an expert in college admissions and increase your chances.