Commonwealth University Physician Assistant Program
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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Application deadline
Nov 1, 2026 · 13 days
CASPA verification due
Nov 1, 2026 · 13 days
Program starts
May 1, 2027 · 194 days
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About the program
Overview
Mission statement
The mission of the MHS program is to educate and train highly-skilled Physician Assistants who: are capable of providing quality health care, have expertise in the health care needs of the medically underserved, are prepared to critically evaluate, and become leaders in bringing, about improvement in the medical and social systems that affect the health of underserved populations, seek and retain employment as primary care Physician Assistants in medically underserved areas of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Program features
Our program provdes students with a modular format during their didactic year. We utilize the anatomage tables for our anatomy lab instruction. We have international service learning opportunities at a variety of locations during both the didactic and clinical years. We have two campus locations and we teach student synchronously at each campus location using ITV technology.
Clinical rotations
Clinical year consists of 5‑week rotations. Core rotations in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Emergency Medicine, and Behavioral Health; two combination rotations (2 weeks Pediatrics + 2 weeks Family Medicine; and 2 weeks Women’s Health + 2 weeks Internal Medicine) with program‑assigned activities in the 5th week; plus two elective rotations. Psychiatry may be in person or primarily via telemedicine.
- 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
91.0%
First-time pass rate
Class size
48
Cohort
Resident tuition
$70,551
Total program
Min GPA
3.00
Required
Student:faculty
4.8:1
Plan ahead
Critical dates
- Checked against the PAEA Program Directory on Apr 4, 2026Nov 1, 2026Application deadline13 days
- Nov 1, 2026CASPA verification due13 days
- May 1, 2027Program starts194 days
- Checked against the PAEA Program Directory on Apr 4, 2026Not publishedSupplemental due
The process
Admissions
Updated Apr 4, 2026
Program requirements
- Min overall GPA
- 3.00
- Min science GPA
- 3.00
- Min prerequisite GPA
- 3.00
- Healthcare experience
- Not required
- Shadowing
- Recommended but not required
Interview format
Traditional Interview; Group Interview
Virtual permitted · Traditional Interview; Group Interview
Application style
Rolling admissions
Required tests
Letters of recommendation — minimum 3
PA; Physician
Acceptance policies
with exceptions. Please visit the program's website.
None
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: www.commonwealthu.edu
Last-checked date not recorded.
Coursework
Prerequisites
Coursework policies
6 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: www.commonwealthu.edu
Last-checked date not recorded.
Math
1 required course.
- Statistics
Science
6 required courses.
- 2 Courses of General Chemistry
- 2 Courses of Biology or Zoology
- Human Anatomy
- Human Physiology
- Human Genetics
- Microbiology
Course requirement details
7 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: www.commonwealthu.edu
Last-checked date not recorded.
Admitted students
Class profile
Outcomes
PANCE pass rates
Latest first-time pass rate (2023): 92.0%
Two-year average: 91.0%
Program PANCE pass rates checked against the program's published figures on Mar 27, 2026View the program's PANCE sourcePANCE history and comparison
6 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: www.commonwealthu.edu
Last-checked date not recorded.
Admissions and outcomes
3 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: www.commonwealthu.edu
Last-checked date not recorded.
Track record
Accreditation history
- First accredited
- 1997/10/01
- Last continued
- September 2017
- Next review
- April 2027
- January 2026Progress Report
The commission Reviewed and More Information Requested of the report addressing 5th edition, citing noncompliance with multiple Standards. The program received a Warning Letter regarding the sponsoring institution's support for the program.
- September 2025Progress Report
The commission reviewed the report addressing observations for 5th edition Standards C1.02a, C1.02c.i, C1.02c.ii, and C1.02c.iii and noted 4 areas of noncompliance with the Standards. No report due as the program will submit a modified self-study report in October 2026.
- June 2025Progress Report
The commission did not accept the November 21, 2024 report addressing 5th edition Standards A1.02g, A1.06, A2.10, A3.12b, B3.07e, B3.07f, B3.07g, and C2.01b. The commission acknowledged the report providing evidence of update to Budget tab and PANCE pass rate data in Program Management Portal.
- March 2025Accreditation-Probation
Adverse Action-Accreditation-Probation due to noncompliance concerns. The commission noted 26 areas of noncompliance with the Standards and 6 new observations. A focused probation visit will occur in advance of the March 2027 commission meeting. The program's maximum class size remains 72. The program did not appeal the commission's decision.
- September 2024Program Change
Program Change: Expansion to a distant campus. The commission does not approve the expansion to the distant campus in Mansfield, PA.
Last updated: Apr 17, 2026
Directory facts are sourced from the PAEA directory.