Houston
Houston is the largest city in Texas and the fourth largest city in the United States. More than 5 million people live in Houston and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Houston's internationally diverse population, strong economy, culture and low cost of living have propelled it to the top of many national lists, including the "Coolest City in America" list in Forbes Magazine.
The overall cost of living in Houston is 5.6% below the national average and housing costs are 20% below the national average. There is no city or state income tax, which adds to the affordability of living in Houston.
- Culture - Houston's Museum District is home to 18 museums within walking distance to each other. The Theater District is second only to New York City in number of theater seats in a concentrated downtown area and is one of only five cities with permanent resident companies in all of the major disciplines: ballet, symphony, theater and opera.
- Sports - Houston is home to professional sports teams in the NFL, MLB, NBA and MLS, as well as many college sports teams.
- Parks - With almost 50,000 acres of parks, Houston ranks first in the nation's 10 most populous cities of total acreage of parks. Discovery Green, located in downtown, hosts free events for the public throughout the year.
- Dining- Houstonians eat at more than 11,000 restaurants ranging from upscale to food trucks. From Tex-Mex to outstanding international cuisine, there is always something new to try.
View MD Anderson's Why Houston? brochure here.
The Texas Medical Center
The campus of the GSBS is the Texas Medical Center, among the world's largest, most modern, and best equipped facilities for training in the basic biomedical sciences as well as translational and clinical research. The TMC occupies 675 acres on an attractive site two miles southwest of downtown Houston, as seen in the aerial view shown above , and includes more than 20 academic institutions plus hospitals and patient care facilities. The campus is immediately adjacent to Rice University and “the Village,” a student centered collection of shops, restaurants, and entertainment. The TMC is also approximately three miles from the University of Houston’s main campus and its facilities and activities.
UTHealth
The most comprehensive academic health sciences university in Texas, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston comprises the schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Public Health, Nursing, Health Information Sciences, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the Institute of Molecular Medicine, and many associated research institutes and centers. Founded in 1972, more 4,400 students are enrolled at UTHealth.
MD Anderson Cancer Center
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is one of the one of the world's most outstanding centers devoted to cancer research, education and prevention, as well as patient care. Its departments include many of the basic sciences essential to understand the function and proliferation of cancer cells and the normal tissues from which they arise. MD Anderson has more grants from the National Cancer Institute than any other institution in the world, and it is the #1 ranked cancer hospital in the U.S. Approximately 2,700 students take part in educational and research programs each year at MD Anderson.
IBT
The Texas A & M University Institute of Biosciences and Technology studies molecular and cellular aspects of agriculture and medicine and encourages the technology transfer of research discoveries to the marketplace. GSBS students are able to study with IBT scientists who are members of the GSBS Faculty.
Student Services
A wide variety of student services, from copy and printing services to the Recreation Center to financial aid and health services are available to GSBS students.