MD · Albuquerque, NM · public · applies through AMCAS
University of New Mexico School of Medicine
Known as New Mexico (UNM)
Prerequisite coursework
Verify with the school| Course | Status | Hours | Lab | Pass/fail | AP credit | Online | Community college | Notes from the school |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biochemistry CHEM | Required | 3 | No | Case-by-case Permitted only for Spring 2020 – Spring 2022 semesters | No | Case-by-case We permit online lectures/labs taken from Spring 2020 Spring 2023. Outside of these semesters, no more than two prerequisite lectures may be taken online, and all labs must be completed in person. | No | Applicants must take one semester or two quarters of Biochemistry. Course must be at the 300 or 400 level. |
| Biology BIOL | Required | 8 | Yes | Case-by-case Permitted only for Spring 2020 – Spring 2022 semesters | Case-by-case Accepted ONLY if college credit was granted by the institute. | Case-by-case We permit online lectures/labs taken from Spring 2020 Spring 2023. Outside of these semesters, no more than two prerequisite lectures may be taken online, and all labs must be completed in person. | Yes | Applicants must take two semesters or three quarters of human-based Biology courses with a corresponding lab. Examples include, but are not limited to, Cell and Molecular Biology, Genetics, Microbiology, and Anatomy and Physiology. |
| Chemistry CHEM | Required | 8 | Yes | Case-by-case | Case-by-case | Case-by-case | Yes | Applicants must take two semesters or three quarters of General Chemistry 1 and 2 with a corresponding lab. |
| Organic Chemistry CHEM | Required | 8 | Yes | Case-by-case Permitted only for Spring 2020 – Spring 2022 semesters. | Case-by-case Accepted ONLY if college credit was granted by the institute. | Case-by-case We permit online lectures/labs taken from Spring 2020 Spring 2023. Outside of these semesters, no more than two prerequisite lectures may be taken online, and all labs must be completed in person. | Yes | Applicants must take two semesters or three quarters of Organic Chemistry 1 and 2 with a corresponding lab. |
| Physics PHYS | Required | 6 | No | Case-by-case | Case-by-case | Case-by-case | Yes | Applicants must take two semesters or three quarters of General Physics 1 and 2. Algebra or Calculus-based Physics is preferred. |
| Psychology BESS | Recommended | 3 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Sociology BESS | Recommended | 3 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Community-college pathways
Prerequisite coursework may be taken at a community college as long as the courses completed meet our class and credit hour requirements. Please note: any accelerated or dual-credit coursework done during high school must be included, along with a letter grade, on official college transcripts. Please see https://hsc.unm.edu/medicine/education/md/admissions/apply/prerequisite-courses.html for more information.
Source: MSAR Report for Applicants and Advisors: Premed Course Requirements 2027 (AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13). Verify with the school.
Admission policies, in the school's words
UNM SOM policy traditionally allows applicants to take up to two prerequisite lecture courses online. All labs must be completed in person. If an applicant exceeds the two online lecture prerequisite courses, or has taken labs online, they will have an opportunity to explain their circumstances for taking more than the allotted two lecture courses online through a formal prerequisite waiver process. The committee will review this information and it will be taken into consideration on a case-by-case basis. Blended/Fusion Classes: UNM SOM considers any blended/fusion or hybrid classes as taken Online. If more than two lectures are taken online then applicants will have the opportunity to submit a prerequisite waiver explaining their circumstances. We are also aware of the disruptions the COVID-19 pandemic may have caused some current applicants in fulfilling the admissions requirements and have some exceptions to online course policy listed below: Online Classes: We will consider prerequisite lectures/labs that were converted to online during the Spring 2020 semester. Additionally, we will permit online lectures/labs taken through Spring 2023. Outside of the semesters listed above, no more than two prerequisite lectures may be taken online, and all labs must be completed in person. If more than two lectures are taken online, then applicants will have the opportunity to submit a prerequisite waiver explaining their circumstances. Credit/No Credit or Pass/Fail Grades: Applicants that received Credit/No Credit or Pass/Fail grades in lieu of a letter grade for prerequisite courses during the Spring 2020 through Spring 2022 semesters/quarters, will have an opportunity to explain their circumstances for which the prerequisite courses are completed outside our guidelines. Outside of the semesters listed above all prerequisite coursework must receive a letter grade of a C or better (C- not acceptable). NOTE: The online coursework policy applies to required prerequisite coursework only.
Source: MSAR Report for Applicants and Advisors: Admission Policies and Information 2027 (AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13). Verify with the school.
Who can apply
- Out-of-state applicants
- Case-by-case Out-of-state applicants must meet one of our strong-ties to the state criteria to gain consideration for admissions.
- Canadian applicants
- Case-by-case Canadian applicants must meet one of our strong-ties to the state criteria to gain consideration for admissions.
- International applicants
- Case-by-case International applicants must meet one of our strong-ties to the state criteria to gain consideration for admissions.
- DACA applicants
- Yes DACA status applicants must meet one of our strong-ties to the state criteria to gain consideration for admissions.
- DACA details
- DACA status applicants must meet one of our strong-ties to the state criteria to gain consideration for admissions.
- Residency preference (school's page)
- Applicants must be New Mexico residents (at least six months) or have strong ties to New Mexico (NM high school, NM college degree, financial dependent of an NM resident, or listed border counties), be enrolled members of federally recognized tribes, active-duty military stationed in NM, DACA applicants meeting a residency criterion, or WICHE residents of Montana/Wyoming applying through Early Decision who meet or exceed the prior year's entering-class average MCAT/GPA.
Source: (AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13). Verify with the school.
Interview
- Format
- Two one-on-one interviews conducted by Application Committee members.
- Invitations sent
- The UNM School of Medicine typically begins sending interview invitations in mid-August.
- Typical interview day
- Interviews are granted by invitation only. The interview provides the medical school with an opportunity to learn more about an applicant’s maturity, motivation for the study of medicine, problem-solving skills, ability to relate to people, and ability to express their ideas in an organized manner. Interviewers will be interested in determining how applicants meet our mission and might contribute to both the learning environment, and to the unique health care needs in New Mexico. Interviews can last from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the interviewer.
- Regional interviews
- Regional interviews are not available.
- Video interviews
- All interviews will be conducted virtually via Zoom for the 2027 application cycle.
- School's admissions page says
- Two virtual interviews via Zoom (30-60 minutes each) with different admissions committee members; interviewers do not see MCAT scores or GPA.
Tags are derived from the text above by keyword; read the text before relying on a tag.
Source: MSAR Report for Applicants and Advisors: Interview Procedures 2027 (AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13). Verify with the school.
Situational-judgment tests and MCAT dates
- Casper
- Not on official list source
- AAMC PREview
- Exploring (not used in decisions) "Exploring PREview for Future use – will not be used in this cycle’s admissions decisions" source
- Latest MCAT considered
- September 12, 2026
- Oldest MCAT considered
- January 2023
Casper status comes from the school's own admissions page where it states one, otherwise from published requirement lists; PREview from the school's page or the AAMC PREview policies report. Both change between cycles. Verify with the school.
Secondary application
- Required
- Yes
- Fee
- $100
- Fee waiver available
- Yes
- Deadline
- Once UNM SOM sends the Secondary Application to an an applicant, they are given 14 days to complete and submit.
- Who receives it
- The UNM SOM sends a Secondary Application to all individuals who submit a Primary AMCAS application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring they meet minimum requirements prior to submission.
Source: (AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13). Verify with the school.
Letters of evaluation
- Committee letter
- Accepted
- Letter packet
- Accepted
- Individual letters
- Preferred
Source: (AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13). Verify with the school.
Waitlist and deposit
- Typical waitlist positions
- 50
- Offers made from the waitlist
- 25
- Procedure
- Waitlisted applicants are positioned on the Alternate List in a rank order. Once a position becomes available the next waitlisted applicant is notified by phone.
- Deposit required
- Yes in state $100 · out of state $100
- Deposit due
- May 1, 2026
- Refundable / applied to tuition
- Yes Yes
Cost of attendance and debt
| In state | Out of state | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | $20,176 | $48,412 |
| Health insurance | $3,919 | $3,919 |
| Total cost of attendance, year 1 | $61,985 | $90,221 |
85% of students receive aid. Average indebtedness of indebted graduates: $140,767.
Official AAMC counts, 2025-2026
- Applications
- 1,719 (11.5% in-state)
- Matriculants
- 103 (78.6% in-state, 21.4% out-of-state; 52.4% women)
- Applications per seat
- 17
Source: AAMC FACTS Table A-1: Applications and Matriculants by School, State of Legal Residence, and Gender, 2025-2026 (AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13).
Entering class 2026
- MCAT (mean)
- 506
- GPA (mean)
- 3.77
Source: the school's published class profile (page), retrieved 2026-10-13. Statistics describe one entering class and are not cutoffs.
Transfer applications
No Contact Name: SOM Admissions Office Phone Number: 5052724766 Email Address: [email protected] Website: https://hsc.unm.edu/medicine/education/md/admissions/transferadmissions.html
Mission statement
Our mission is to advance the health of all New Mexicans by educating and increasing the diversity of health professionals, leaders and scientists, providing outstanding and compassionate medical care, advocating for the health of all New Mexicans, and pursuing new knowledge, and excellence of practice. Mission Impact in Admissions • We observe mission-aligned selection practices when assessing applicants. Once minimum requirements have been met, we blind interviewers to the MCAT, GPA, and academic record of applicants. This allows us to select applicants who align with our mission and who are committed to improving healthcare in our local communities. • We recognize the importance of rural and community physicians in addressing health equity issues. By involving them in our admissions committee they provide valuable perspectives to the selection process. • In an effort to support applicants unsuccessful in gaining admissions, and/or from rural and underserved communities or low socioeconomic backgrounds, we provide a post application workshop, and individual consultations with specific recommendations to help individuals improve future applications. Mission Impact in Medical School Curriculum • We provide students with the opportunity to engage in faculty-mentored scholarly projects related to health care issues in local communities. The focus on the Rural and Urban Underserved Program (RUUP) adds a significant dimension by allowing students to work directly with medically underserved communities. • The Practical Immersion Experience is a 6-week rural community-based clinical preceptorship, where students live in the assigned community. This provides a unique and immersive learning opportunity with first-hand experience to observe and understand daily life in a rural community, gaining insights into the specific community healthcare challenges and needs. • Medical students participate in Learning Communities, which provide students with a support structure that includes a faculty mentor and upper classmates. This fosters a sense of community and mentorship, creating a supportive environment for students. • Incorporating Cultural Humility into our curriculum provides opportunities for students to learn about the populations they serve, such as teaching about use of birthing sashes in Navajo births and cleansing ceremony for local tribal and Native students. This approach enriches educational experience for students, and prepares them to provide culturally sensitive and patient-centered care. Mission Impact in Medical School Student Support • The HSC Center for Native American Health plays a pivotal role in addressing healthrelated needs and fostering collaboration within Native American Communities. Its specialization in various areas include; student and workforce development, community engagement, community-based participatory research, community health assessment capacity building, program planning, and project management. • The Learning Environment Office mission is to foster an inclusive learning environment where teachers, staff, and learners thrive, and relationships are mutually respectful and beneficial to each other and to institutional climate. The initiatives, such as the speaker series, demonstrate a commitment to fostering respect, connection, and inclusion. Mission Impact in Graduates • 2025, UNM SOM ranked in Tier 1 for its Primary Care program in the US News and World Report. UNM SOM also ranked in Tier 3 for Research, and #23 for Most Graduates Practicing in Health Professional Shortage Areas • Approximately 24% of all UNM-trained physicians are practicing in New Mexico • UNM-trained physicians are practicing in 30 of New Mexico’s 33 counties • 45% of all UNM-trained physicians practicing in New Mexico are in primary care specialties of Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, OB/GYN, or Pediatrics.
Notes
How to Apply page: 'The 2026 entering class average MCAT composite was 506 and the average cumulative GPA was 3.77'; residency page: 2025 entering class average MCAT 507, cumulative GPA 3.75. Minimum GPA 3.0 and minimum MCAT 494 (scores up to four years old accepted; highest composite used). No applicant counts, class size or demographic breakdown published; secondary fee not stated.
Sources for this page
- MSAR Report for Applicants and Advisors: Premed Course Requirements 2027 · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- MSAR Report for Applicants and Advisors: Admission Policies and Information 2027 · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- MSAR Report for Applicants and Advisors: Interview Procedures 2027 · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- School website (class profile and admissions pages)
- LCME Directory - Accredited Programs
- AAMC FACTS Table A-1: Applications and Matriculants by School, State of Legal Residence, and Gender, 2025-2026 · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- https://hsc.unm.edu/medicine/education/md/admissions/apply/ · school website, retrieved 2026-10-13
- https://hsc.unm.edu/medicine/education/md/admissions/apply/mcat.html · school website, retrieved 2026-10-13
- https://hsc.unm.edu/medicine/education/md/admissions/apply/residency-requirements.html · school website, retrieved 2026-10-13
- https://hsc.unm.edu/medicine/education/md/admissions/apply/interviews.html · school website, retrieved 2026-10-13
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