Community Impact reports that the Dean for the College of Health Sciences Ryan Zapalac said in a May 22nd interview with the publication that Sam Houston State University is looking to February 2026 for the opening of its new Health Professions Building. It’s estimated to cost around $65 million to $70 million.
Zapalac said, “The goal is to meet the health care needs of the citizens and the state of Texas, and particularly this region.”
The building will be located next to the university’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. The summer of 2026 is the target date for students to begin using the building.
Housed within the new building will be four academic programs—two existing programs and two proposed programs. The two existing programs are Master of Science in athletic training with 20 students per cohort and Master of Science in dietetics with 10 students per cohort, which the university is considering expanding. The two proposed programs are Master of Science in physician assistant studies with 60 students per cohort, with an anticipated fall 2026 start date, and Doctor of physical therapy with a 40 student cohort, with a possible expansion, and an anticipated fall 2027 start date.
