Penn State University

Penn State University
500 University Drive Mail Code H152 \r\n
Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033

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Program Website

*Last updated February 20th, 2025

General Information

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.

Unique 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.

Curriculum Focus: Collaborative or Team-Based Learning; Hybrid of Traditional or Case-Based Learning; Organ-Based/Systems-Based Learning

Credentials Offered: Master's degree (not Master's of Public Health)

Bridge or Dual Degree: No

Doctorate Degree Offered: No

Type of Masters Degree: MPAS: Master of Physician Assistant Studies, MPAS: Master of Physician Assistant Studies

Program Length: 24 Months

Start Month: May 2026

Estimated Incoming Class Size: 30

Part-time Option: No

Distance Learning: No

On-Campus Housing: Yes

Required Onsite Interview: No

Types of Interviews: Traditional Interview

Admission Type: Rolling - Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis

CASPA & Deadlines

CASPA Member: Yes

Upcoming CASPA Cycle: Yes

Application Deadline: 12/01/2025

Deadline Requirement: Green-Verified: the application has been submitted, payment, all transcripts, and at least two evaluation letters must be received by CASPA by the posted deadline, and the application has a verified status, meaning all GPAs have been calculated by CASPA.

Supplemental Application: Yes

Supplemental Deadline: 12/15/2026

Supplemental Application Fee: No information provided

Supplemental Application Fee Waiver: No

Tuition & Deposits

Separate Tuition Rates: Yes

Tuition: No information provided

Resident Tuition: $90,384

Non-Resident Tuition: $93,284

Seat Deposit: Yes

Seat Deposit Cost: $1,000

Refundable Seat Deposit: No

Matriculants

Out of State Students Accepted: Yes

Transfer Students Accepted: No

DACA Status Applicants Considered: Yes

International Applicants Accepted: No

International Application Link

Support for Veterans: No information provided

Program Matriculants by Gender

Female: 19

Male: 11

Non-Binary: -

Gender Unknown: -

Ethnicity of Program Matriculants by Number

American Indian or Alaskan Native: -

Asian: 5

Black or African American: 1

Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish: 1

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: -

White: 23

Other: -

GRE Average Scores

Average Verbal Reasoning GRE Score: 157

Average Analytical Writing GRE Score: No information provided

Average Quantitative Reasoning GRE Score: 156

GRE Average Percentiles

Average Verbal Reasoning GRE Percentile: 74

Average Analytical Writing GRE Percentile: No information provided

Average Quantitative Reasoning GRE Percentile: 52

Requirements

Minimum Number of Reference Letters Required: 3

Types of References Required: No restrictions

Minimum Overall GPA Required: 3.00

Minimum Prereq GPA Required: No GPA minimum required

Minimum Science GPA Required: 3

Standardized Test(s) Required: None

Healthcare Experience: Yes, required

Hours Needed: 500

Time Limit in Which To Complete Experience: No Requirement

Paid Health Care: Recommended but not required

Volunteer/Community Service Health Care: Recommended but not required

Paid Direct Patient Care: Recommended but not required

Volunteer Direct Patient Care: Recommended but not required

Direct Patient Care Hours Needed: No information provided

Direct Patient Care Time Limit: No information provided

Other Paid Health Care: Recommended but not required

Other Volunteer Health Care: No information provided

Shadowing a PA: Recommended but not required

Shadowing a Physician: Recommended but not required

Shadowing other health care provider: Recommended but not required

Clinical and/or non-clinical research: Recommended but not required

Virtual Health Care Accepted: Yes

Virtual Shadowing Accepted: Yes

Prerequisites

Prereq time limit: 5 Years

Human Anatomy: 3 Credit(s)

Biology (general): 3 Credit(s)

Biochemistry: 3 Credit(s)

Microbiology: 3 Credit(s)

Chemistry (general): 3 Credit(s)

Organic Chemistry: 3 Credit(s)

Human Physiology: 3 Credit(s)

Statistics: 3 Credit(s)

English: 6 Credit(s)

Psychology: 3 Credit(s)