Direct Entry Physician Assistant (PA) Programs
There are 43 direct entry, dual-degree BS/MS Physician Assistant (PA) programs in the United States.
These programs offer the opportunity for early provisional acceptance to exceptional high school students wishing to accelerate their academic and career paths to become physician assistants.
Application for the program is usually made during the senior year of high school.
Most often accepted applicants go on to complete a five-year (3+2) Bachelor of Science program in biological sciences/Master of Science program in physician assistant studies.
There are multiple variations on this theme which are reflected on the pre-physician assistant program websites which I have linked to below.
The BSHS/MSPA Programs are rigorous, and admission is highly competitive. Successful applicants are typically strong students academically, especially in the sciences. Often, to be considered for admission, the applicant should be a high school senior in the top 10% of their class with an SAT score (Critical Reading and Math) of 1220 or higher with a math score of 570, or a Combined ACT score of 24 or higher.
Healthcare experience is not required but is of benefit. An understanding of the role of the physician assistant is expected.
This direct entry admission option to most PA programs is often (although not always) available only to first-year students.
42 (and growing) Direct Entry and Dual Degree BS/MS Pre-Physician Assistant (PA) Programs
The following table and legend were last updated on 08/2020. If you are aware of additional programs offering pre-professional, dual degree, or direct entry BS/MS programs please let me know in the comments section below.
Programs labeled “competitive” may require that the student reapplies for entry into the professional or graduate phase of the PA program or interview or obtain the recommendation of their program. Generally, it means that acceptance into the professional phase is not guaranteed upon successful completion of the pre-professional phase.
Name of Program and MS/BS Weblink | State | Pre-Professional Phase (years/degree) | Competitive Process for Advancement (yes/no) | Professional Phase (years/degree) |
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | NY | Three years | No | Offering a 28-month Physician Assistant program leading to a Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies. |
Arcadia University | PA | Four years/ bachelor’s degree in majors such as biology, chemistry, or psychology | No | Two years/ Master of Medical Science |
Butler University | Closed to new applicants | |||
Chatham University | PA | Highly qualified first-year applicants to Chatham University are eligible for guaranteed or preferred admission to Chatham's integrated undergraduate and graduate degree programs | Yes | 24 months / Masters of Physician Assistant Studies |
College of Saint Mary | NE | 3 + 2 program
Three years/ Bachelor of Science in human biology |
Yes | Two years/ Master of Medical Science |
D’Youville College | NY | 4.5 years, combined pre-professional and professional phase/Bachelor of Science | No | Master of Science |
Daemen College | NY | Four to five years, combined pre-professional and professional phase/ no single degree conferred | No | 33 months/ Bachelor of Science in Health Science and Master of Science in PA Studies upon completion of all requirements |
DeSales University | PA | Three years/ Bachelor of Science in Medical Studies | No | Two years/ Master of Science in PA Studies |
Drexel University | PA | Three years/ bachelor’s degree | Yes | 27 months/ Master of Health Science |
Duquesne University | PA |
Three years/ Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (5-year complete program) |
No | 27 months/ Master of PA Studies |
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University | LA |
Early admission will be considered after completion of 3.5 years of biology-human medicine curriculum / Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology-Human Medicine Track |
Yes | 26 months /Master of Medical Science Degree in Physician Assistant Studies |
Gannon University | PA | 3 + 2 combined pre-professional and professional phase
(5-year complete program) |
No | Master of PA Science |
Jefferson University | PA | Three years/ Bachelor of Science in Health Science | No | 25 months/ Master of Science in PA Studies |
Hofstra University | NY | Three years | No | 28 months/dual degree: Bachelor of Science in PA Studies/Master of Science in PA Studies |
Kettering College | OH | 3 + 2 program
Three years/ Bachelor of Science in human biology |
Yes | Two years/ Master of PA Studies |
King’s College | PA | 3 + 2 program
Three years/Bachelor of Science in Medical Studies |
No | Two years/ Master of Science in PA Studies |
Le Moyne College | NY | Three years/ Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts | Yes | Two years/ Master of Science |
Lock Haven University | PA | Three years/ Bachelor of Science in Health Science; prepares students for application to a number of PA programs across the country and to the LHU PA program | Yes | Two years/ Master of Health Science |
Marquette University | WI | Two years/ Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences | Yes | Three years/ Master of PA Studies |
Marywood University | PA | Three years (sometimes two)/bachelor's degree | Yes | 27 months/ Master of Science in PA Studies |
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston | MA | 30 months/ Bachelor of Science in Premedical and Health Studies | Yes | Two years/ Master of PA Studies |
Mercy College of Ohio | OH | Four-year Pre-PA Biology major | Yes | 28-month Master of PA Studies |
New York Institute of Technology | NY | Three years/ Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences | Yes | Three years/ Master of Science in PA Studies |
Nova Southeastern University | FL | Three years/ Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences | Yes | 27 months/ Master of Science in PA Studies |
Pennsylvania College of Technology (PCT) | PA | One year of pre-professional preparation recommended at Penn College (one of PCT’s academic schools)/Bachelor of Science | Yes | 27 months at PCT/Option for a Master’s in Health Science available through Nova Southeastern University in Florida |
Quinnipiac University | CT | Four years/ Bachelor of Science in Health and Science Studies | No | 27 months/ Master of Health Science |
Rochester Institute of Technology | NY | Two years | Yes | Three years/ Combined Bachelor of Science/ Master of Science in PA Studies |
Rutgers | NJ | 3 + 3 program
Three years/ Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts |
Yes | Three Years Master of Science |
Salus University (pre-professional phase completed at Brigham Young University in Idaho and Western New England University) | PA | Three years/bachelor’s degree from BYUI | Yes | Two years/Master's of Medical Science in PA Studies |
Seton Hall University | PA | 3 years / Bachelor of Sciences in Biology | Yes | 3 year Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies |
Seton Hill University | PA | 2.5 years | No | 27 or 29 months/ Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science upon completion of the program |
Shenandoah University | VA | 3 years Bachelor of sciences | Yes | Direct admit 5 high school seniors to their PA program every year. They also reserve a PA Program slot for 5 undergrads from their PrePa program of study each year. |
Slippery Rock University | PS | 3 years Bachelor of sciences | Yes | 2 year Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies |
Springfield College | MA | 33 months/ Bachelor of Science in Health Science | Yes | 27 months/ Master of Science |
St. Francis University | PA | Physician Assistant Science Program, B.S. in Health Science + Master of Physician Assistant Science (5-year) | Yes | Master of Physician Assistant Science (2-year) |
Stockton University | NJ | Three years/ Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (BSHS) | No | Master of Physician Assistant Studies (2-year) |
Union College (UC) | NE | Three years/ Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in biology, chemistry, or psychology; or Bachelor of Science in international rescue and relief; prepares students for application to a number of PA programs across the country and to the UC PA program | Yes | 33 months/ Master of PA Studies |
University of Detroit Mercy
|
MI | Three years/ Bachelor of Science in Biology | Yes | Two years/ Master of Science in PA Studies |
University of the Cumberlands | KY | Three years as pre-PA biology major/ Bachelor of Health Science | Yes | Two years/ Master of Physician Assistant Studies |
University of Evansville | IN | Three years as pre-PA biology major/ Bachelor of Health Science | Yes | Two years/ Master of Science in PA Studies |
University of the Sciences (USP) | PA | Three years | Yes | Three Years Master of Science - Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) Graduate PA Program |
University of St. Francis–Ft. Wayne | IN | After completing a bachelor's degree, students move directly into PA master's degree curriculum with no additional application process | No | 27 months/ Master of Science in PA Studies |
Valparaiso University | IN | Three years / Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree | Yes | Two years / Master of Science in Physician Assistant |
Wagner College | NY | Three years | Yes | Three years/ Bachelor of Science/ Master of Science in Advanced PA Studies and a PA Certificate of Completion |
Legend and Notes:
- Programs labeled “competitive” may require that the student reapplies for entry into the professional or graduate phase of the PA program or interview or obtain the recommendation of their program. Generally, it means that acceptance into the professional phase is not guaranteed upon successful completion of the pre-professional phase.
- Degrees earned for completion of the pre-professional phase are frequently not awarded by the programs until students successfully complete the first year of the professional phase or upon graduation from the program’s professional.
Do you have an opinion about direct entry PA programs or a PA program update you would like to share? If so, just let me know down below in the comments section below.
Lee says
Hi my daughter wants an accelerated PA program NOT far from home. And not Seton Hall. We are in NJ. Any recommendations ?? She’s looking for a small town college feel. Not a big city!
Jo says
What do think about/know about the program at St John’s University in Queens, NY?
Can a PA have an undergrad degree in PA and a masters in a related field and satisfy licensing requirements?
Jo says
I have heard that the program there is changing.
Terry says
which program are you referencing is changing, and do you know in what manner?
Anna says
My daughter was accept to the PA undergrad. Program there but was told that the number of student will be getting into 3rd (the professional phase) year will be cut in half from 150 admitted to 75 students progressing to the 3rd year after interviews and progress check. It sounds really weird. I understand that some students won’t be able to handle the program or just decide or transfer but to put AA actual number limit does not make sense to me. Am I wrong?
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Anna,
It may simply have to do with the amount of preceptors and rotation sites they have available to students.
Stephen
Terry says
Our daughter has been accepted to Springfield College (MA), Quinnipiac University (CT), and Hofstra University (NY). I’ve been researching these direct entry programs and it seems there is no rating on the entirety of a direct entry program. For example, I believe they require direct patient care hours to be accumulated so there is some level of understanding in the Graduate phases where they might be paired with prior EMT’s, nurses, etc. QU requires 1,000 hours prior to the beginning of the 4th year. Similarly Springfield requires 450 hours. Yet Hofstra only requires 50 hours. QU is “ranked” by US World and News Report as tied for the #5 ranking among the programs and S.C. and H.U. both rank as tied at #70. However Hofstra is a 5 1/2 year program and the other two are a full 6 years? Is there any way to compare the actual education, clinicals a student would get at any of the three? The rankings would leave you to believe QU – but even receiving the top aid amount, it is approximately $40K more for the same degree. Any advice in comparing these types of programs? Thanks so much for your time!!!
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Terry,
There is a lot of debate as to whether these ranking data have any validity whatsoever. This includes the US News and World Reports Ranking data which everyone quotes (even myself). I think the more important question to ask is how long has the program been accredited (do they have continuing accreditation or are they in probation, provisional or developing) and what are their PANCE pass rates? Then look at the tuition data and other factors such as location, length of program and class size (among others). If you want you could take the combined ranking of the undergraduate program and the graduate program add them together and come up with a useful comparison.
1. Springfield college: http://www.paschoolfinder.com/item/springfield-college/
– 27 months, 35 students, $114,000, continuing accreditation, 100% PANCE pass rate for the last 10 years
2. Quinnipiac: http://www.paschoolfinder.com/item/quinnipiac-university/
– 27 months, 54 students, $95,000, continuing accreditation, Five Year First Time Taker Average Pass Rate for Program: 98%, 100% last 3 years
3. Hofstra University: http://www.paschoolfinder.com/item/hofstra-university/
– 28 months, 50 students, $97,000, continuing accreditation, Five Year First Time Taker Average Pass Rate for Program: 94%, 97% the last 2 years
Stephen
Terry says
Thank you very much – this gives us the final components to consider. For parents of high school students considering these direct-entry programs, I would strongly recommend a second visit through Hofstra’s “Up-Close” program. After our initial campus tour, we took home information to research, they have been unbelievably helpful. After doing more research and continuing to interact with their admissions people, they provided us an itinerary designed to meet with the departments or advisors we requested. It allows our daughter to sit in on classes, speak to others in the program and their staff has been incredibly pro-active and responsive in every step of the process.
M says
I’ve been trying to get into a PA program for 5 years, but don’t currently work in the medical field. I’m thinking at this point going back and applying to some of these schools in order to reach that goal. Thanks for putting together this information.
Kathy j says
My daughter is a junior in high school and interested in getting a dual degree PA. Are there any programs in Georgia or the southern US. She is extremely bright 4.0 GPA and already is dual enrolled in college courses with hopefully 2 years of college completed when she graduates high school. Please help direct us.
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Kathy,
There are four non-residency PA programs in Georgia. I would recommend contacting their admsissions department this week and learning what they offer: http://www.paschoolfinder.com/?s=&category=&location=414&a=true
Sometimes their PA program websites can be misleading (or dated) so it is best to contact them directly.
I wish you and your daughter the best of luck in your search!
Stephen
Ly Pham says
Is there a direct entry into BS/MS in PA in CA? I just found your website and think I miss the deadline .
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Ly,
Best thing to do is contact the program directly if the deadline is not clear on their website.
Stephen
Margaret says
I believe chatham University in Pittsburgh PA also has a guaranteed seat & 5 yr. program. Can you check & confirm? thanks. great site you have.
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Margaret,
I did some poking around on their website but if they do have a 2+ program they sure don’t make it obvious :-). It is probably best to give the admissions team a call to get all the details. These things can change as well from year to year.
Stephen
Lawrence says
I love this site!!! Thank you for being so innovative and helping navigate through our options! My son wiuld love to start right out of high school but it looks to be so competitive!
Charles Milch, MHP, MBA, PA-C says
Stephen,
FYI: Springfield College in Massachusetts has a direct admit into the professional and each undergraduate student is guaranteed a seat in the professional phase as long as all the minimum per-requisite requirements are fulfilled. We only accept 35 undergraduates into the freshmen class.
Nicolet says
Hello Stephen,
This website has been extremely helpful as someone who is just beginning to explore PA options. Thank you for your creativity and mind set to help others interested in this filed.
I am a non traditional student in my 30’s with a very strong desire to become a PA. I am currently phlebotomist and have been actively conducting life insurance physicals for the past 3 yrs. I addition to having experience in the dental field as well as taking full care of my father for numerous years until his untimely passing. In your professional opinion would I be viewed as a desirable PA candidate and if so what would you recommend to be the best program for me in Pennsylvania as a non traditional student, mother, wife?
Thank you for your time in reviewing this message.
Harben says
Hello Stephen,
First I would like to thank you for this amazing website you have here and all this amazing content. Your remarkable work made me choose becoming a PA, and I will always be thankful to you because of it.
What I would like to ask is about my situation. I a Brazilian student – athlete currently on my first semester as a Junior in college. I decided to become a PA during the Spring of my Sophomore year. I currently have a 3.4 overall GPA. But the problem is that I do not have any HCE or volunteer work at all. And this is the only thing that concerns me. Because I am a student – athlete, and not US Citizen it is quite hard to get HCE, my only option is volunteering and shadowing during summer but I am afraid that still might not be enough to get into PA school.
What is your opinion about my situation? What are good options for myself? Also, I have been considering transferring to a school that offers this dual degree, is that possible?
Thank you.
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Harben,
You have to work with what you have. I know I couldn’t have been a student athlete and found time to volunteer and work as well during the school year. So do what you can with your summers and find opportunities to gain experience however you can. You may simply consider spending a year after graduation working and then apply the following year. Many schools have cut their HCE hours and there are quite a few that have it listed as “recommended” or “preferred”. This is to allow qualified applicants like yourself a chance. But don’t stretch yourself too thin while in school, consider working for a bit upon graduation and consider applying to schools with less HCE hours if you want to apply right away. Many schools understand the difficulties student athletes face and will appreciate your high GPA and ability to hold it all together.
Stephen
Shahood says
Hi! are there any in ohio? I want to stay in state to take care of my dad.
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Shahood,
There are 13 PA programs in Ohio, you can reference the schools here: http://www.paschoolfinder.com/?s=&category=&location=395&a=true
I am not sure if any of these offer a direct entry program but spend some time on the individual program websites (there are links available on each program info page) and contact a few – you should be able to find the answer you are looking for.
Stephen
Loreen says
I have a MS degree with a science GPA of 3.7 and a BS with a GPA of 2.7. I am currently working as an ER scribe and a lot of shadowing/volunteer hrs. I am very interested in practicing medicine as a PA. What are my chances of getting into a PA school?
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Loreen, you have a wonderful science GPA that will offset your overall GPA of 2.7 and help to expand your options. You can search schools by overall GPA requirements on on my paschoolfinder website. Here is the general overall GPA page: http://www.paschoolfinder.com/cat/overall-gpa/ . As you can see there are 29 schools that don’t have an overall GPA minimum http://www.paschoolfinder.com/cat/no-minimum-overall-gpa/ and your science GPA will certainly meet any minimum requirements they may have.
You have a lot of great experience to support your case which will certainly work in your favor. So, get to work finding schools that match you as an applicant and assemble your “power pack” of applicant tools – i.e three very strong references along with a better than average personal statement. Wow the admissions team with your charm and understanding of the profession and your role in it… and yes, you have a good chance.
Hope that helps,
Stephen
Irene says
Hi Stephen,
Thank you for doing an amazing job reaching out and making positive changes in so many PA lives. Your good attitude radiates in your website and gives us more opportunities, knowledge, and resourses. You bring PA profession to a new level.
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Thanks ? Irene! You rock.
senior parent says
I don’t think Marquette in Wisconsin has direct admit any longer–Carroll in Wisconsin may.
Matt says
It’s a great website. It’s very useful for my son’s BS/MS PA program application.
Thanks
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Thanks Matt, and best of luck to your son!
Stephen
Jamie m says
Are there any in md or dc?? Even northern Virginia?? Really don’t want to move out of state for a 5 year program
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Jamie,
There are 3 PA programs in MD: http://www.paschoolfinder.com/?s=&category=&location=390&a=true
and currently 0 in Washington DC. I would suggest following the links to the PA program websites in MD and seeing what they offer. If you still are not sure contact the PA programs directly and ask them if they have a direct entry or dual degree track.
Stephen
Karen says
Just an FYI: the link for Seton Hill University in western PA leads to Seton Hall in New Jersey.
Jayme says
Hi Stephen,
Any idea if someone with a BA can apply for one of these programs? I have a BA in Political Science and want to change careers. Since I have to take the pre reqs anyway, I was thinking of applying to one of these programs and getting a BS but it might be better to just take them at a JC then apply for a masters program. What do you think? Any insight is appreciated! Thanks!
Thomas says
Our Lady of the Lake College in Baton Rouge has a 3+2 program too.
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Thanks Thomas I will add it now