Western Michigan University
Accreditation notice
This program has had 1 accreditation action in the past 5 years, including Probation. See the accreditation history section for details.
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Compare your GPA and patient-care hours with this program's published minimums and matriculant GPA averages. No account required.
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Application deadline
Dec 1, 2026 · 43 days
Supplemental due
Dec 1, 2026 · 43 days
Program starts
Sep 1, 2027 · 317 days
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About the program
Overview
Mission statement
The Department of Physician Assistant at Western Michigan University is dedicated to educating competent, caring physician assistants to practice primary care medicine in all areas of society.
Program features
The Western Michigan University PA Program combines strong clinical training with close faculty mentorship in a collaborative learning environment. A systems-based curriculum integrates pharmacology and clinical medicine longitudinally, emphasizing clinical reasoning and patient-centered care. Small cohort sizes and strong regional clinical partnerships provide diverse, hands-on experiences that prepare graduates for practice across a wide range of healthcare settings.
Clinical rotations
Clinical year includes core rotations in Women’s Health, Pediatrics, Surgery, Psychiatry, Emergency Medicine (typically 4 weeks each, 40 hours/week) and two 8-week core rotations in Family Medicine and Internal Medicine, plus two electives; also includes clinical practice seminars and a research/professional experience course.
- Credentials offered
- Master's degree (not Master's of Public Health)
- Doctorate offered
- No
- On-campus housing
- Yes
- CASPA participant
- Yes
The numbers
At a glance
Class size
40
Cohort
Resident tuition
$79,269
Total program
Plan ahead
Critical dates
- Checked against the PAEA Program Directory on Apr 4, 2026Dec 1, 2026Application deadline43 days
- Checked against the PAEA Program Directory on Apr 4, 2026Dec 1, 2026Supplemental due43 days
- Sep 1, 2027Program starts317 days
- Not publishedCASPA verification due
The process
Admissions
Updated Apr 4, 2026
Program requirements
- Min prerequisite GPA
- 2.00
- Min PCE hours
- 1,000
- Min direct patient care
- 1,000 hrs
- Healthcare experience
- Required
- Shadowing
- Not Required
Interview format
Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)
On-site required · Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)
Application style
Rolling admissions
Supplemental application required
Required tests
Letters of recommendation — minimum 3
No restrictions
Acceptance policies
None
The bill
Costs
Updated Apr 4, 2026
Supplemental fee waiver: Available
This program has separate tuition rates for resident and non-resident students.
Total cost of attendance
1 recorded cost estimate
See the recorded total cost-of-attendance estimate. Published tuition and fees remain above. A free account gives you access; no payment is required.
Source: wmich.edu
Last-checked date not recorded.
Coursework
Prerequisites
Coursework policies
8 recorded policy fields
Read the recorded coursework policies and any available source excerpts or unresolved policy questions. A free account gives you access; no payment is required.
Source: wmich.edu
Last-checked date not recorded.
Behavioral Science
1 required course.
- Developmental Psychology (Life Span)
Math
1 required course.
- Introductory Statistics
Science
4 required courses.
- Human Anatomy
- Human Physiology (upper level)
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry (upper level)
Course requirement details
6 prerequisite records
Read the recorded course requirements, including available credits, grades, lab rules, time limits and source excerpts. A free account gives you access; no payment is required.
Source: wmich.edu
Last-checked date not recorded.
Admitted students
Class profile
- Avg overall GPA
- 3.55
- Avg science GPA
- 3.36
Gender
- female 74%
- male 26%
Ethnicity
- white 72%
- asian 10%
- hispanic 10%
- black 5%
- multiracial 3%
Admissions and outcomes
4 recorded admissions, faculty and outcome fields across this program page
See the recorded admissions funnel, faculty and outcome data throughout this page. A free account gives you access; no payment is required.
Source: wmich.edu
Last-checked date not recorded.
Outcomes
PANCE pass rates
Latest first-time pass rate: Not published
Two-year average: Not published
Track record
Accreditation history
- First accredited
- 1972/09/01
- Last continued
- March 2024
- Next review
- October 2027
- September 2025Progress Report
The program's PANCE pass rate percentage was 85% or less for its 2024 cohort. The program submitted the required analysis of PANCE performance. The commission accepted the report.
- June 2025Progress Report
The commission accepted the report addressing 5th edition standards related to supervised clinical practice experiences and student performance evaluations.
- March 2024Continued Accreditation
Accreditation-Continued; Program has demonstrated continued and sufficient compliance with most ARC-PA Standards. The commission originally granted Accreditation-Withdrawn status; after reconsideration (action upheld) and formal appeal, the action was reversed and the program was granted Accreditation-Continued status.
- June 2023Progress Report
The program's PANCE pass rate percentage was 85% or less for its 2021 cohort. The program submitted the required analysis of PANCE performance. The commission accepted the report.
- March 2023Progress Report
The commission accepted the report addressing 5th edition standards related to sponsoring institution responsibilities and program director responsibilities for programmatic review.
Trust
Where this data comes from
- chapman.edu/crean/academic-programs/graduate-progra…-questions.aspxUpdated Apr 17, 2026
- wmich.edu/pa/about/attritionUpdated Sep 9, 2026
Last updated: Sep 9, 2026
Directory facts are sourced from the PAEA directory.