Penn State University
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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
CASPA verification due
Dec 1, 2026 · 43 days
Supplemental due
Dec 15, 2026 · 57 days
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About the program
Overview
Mission statement
The Penn State College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program's mission is to prepare graduates to be academically, clinically, professionally and culturally competent physician assistants who are devoted to serving patients in their communities through the application of clinical reasoning, critical thinking, and evidence-based practice to deliver compassionate and comprehensive care.
Program features
The Penn State PA Program is positioned within the College of Medicine at an Academic Health Center; offers small class sizes, personalized learning experiences, dedicated Humanities curriculum and team-based learning coupled with phenomenal student resources and an emphasis on student wellness and burnout prevention; high student retention rates, exceptional outcomes, a state-of-the-art simulation center, and cadaver lab.
Clinical rotations
Students complete eight required 5‑week core rotations covering behavioral health, emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, ambulatory care, general surgery, pediatrics, and reproductive health, plus one 5‑week elective in a medical or surgical specialty.
- 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
PANCE 2-yr avg
100.0%
First-time pass rate
Class size
30
Cohort
Resident tuition
$87,884
Total program
Min GPA
3.00
Required
Plan ahead
Critical dates
- Checked against the PAEA Program Directory on Apr 4, 2026Dec 1, 2026Application deadline43 days
- Dec 1, 2026CASPA verification due43 days
- Checked against the PAEA Program Directory on Apr 4, 2026Dec 15, 2026Supplemental due57 days
- May 1, 2027Program starts194 days
The process
Admissions
Updated Apr 4, 2026
Program requirements
- Min overall GPA
- 3.00
- Min science GPA
- 3.00
- Min prerequisite GPA
- 3.00
- Min PCE hours
- 500
- Healthcare experience
- Required
- Shadowing
- Recommended but not required
Interview format
Traditional Interview; Panel Interview
Virtual permitted · Traditional Interview; Panel Interview
Application style
Rolling admissions
Required tests
Letters of recommendation — minimum 3
No restrictions
Acceptance policies
with exceptions. Please visit the program's website.
with exceptions. Please visit the program's website.
Veteran support
Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) - will accept MCAT
The bill
Costs
Updated Apr 4, 2026
Supplemental fee waiver: Not 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: med.psu.edu
Last-checked date not recorded.
Coursework
Prerequisites
Coursework policies
3 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: med.psu.edu
Last-checked date not recorded.
Behavioral Science
1 required course.
- General Psychology
English
1 required course.
- English Composition (two semesters, or two writing intensive courses)
Math
1 required course.
- Statistics or Biostatistics
Science
5 required courses.
- General Biology
- Anatomy and Physiology (two semesters or one semester each)
- Microbiology
- General or Principles of Chemistry
- Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry
Course requirement details
8 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: med.psu.edu
Last-checked date not recorded.
Admitted students
Class profile
- Avg overall GPA
- 3.85
- Avg science GPA
- 3.80
Gender
- female 77%
- male 23%
Ethnicity
- white 62%
- asian 18%
- hispanic 9%
- multiracial 9%
- black 3%
Average age and experience
2 recorded age and experience fields
See the available matriculant age and experience-hour averages. A free account gives you access; no payment is required.
Source: med.psu.edu
Last-checked date not recorded.
Admissions and outcomes
7 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: med.psu.edu
Last-checked date not recorded.
Outcomes
PANCE pass rates
Latest first-time pass rate (2025): 100.0%
Two-year average: 100.0%
Program PANCE pass rates checked against the program's published figures on Mar 27, 2026View the program's PANCE sourcePANCE history and comparison
2 years of PANCE results
See the available year-by-year results, trend and national comparison. A free account gives you access; no payment is required.
Source: pennstatehealthnews.org
Last-checked date not recorded.
Track record
Accreditation history
- First accredited
- 2013/09/06
- Last continued
- September 2021
- Next review
- October 2027
- March 2023Program Change
Program Change: Change in program fiscal support. The commission acknowledged the program's proposed change.
- June 2022Progress Report
The commission acknowledged the report providing evidence of updates to the proposed plan in response to COVID-19, and accepted the report addressing 5th edition Standard C1.03.
- March 2022Progress Report
The commission acknowledged the report providing evidence of updates to the program's website.
- September 2021Continued Accreditation
Accreditation-Continued; Next Comprehensive Evaluation: September 2027. Maximum Class Size: 30.
- June 2020Progress Report
The commission accepted the report addressing 4th edition Standards A1.03c and A2.09d, and acknowledged the report providing evidence of the proposed plan in response to COVID-19.
Trust
Where this data comes from
- mcphs.edu/academics/programs/physican-assistant-s…pas-acceleratedUpdated Apr 17, 2026
Last updated: Apr 17, 2026
Directory facts are sourced from the PAEA directory.