Direct Entry PA Programs
Updated July 11, 2026. Looking for the most current list of direct entry PA programs, BS/MS physician assistant programs, and high school direct entry physician assistant programs?
After a fresh review of official university and physician assistant program pages, I found 31 current direct-entry or accelerated undergraduate-to-PA pathways in the United States, plus 1 active affiliate-partnership pathway network that I list separately below.
These direct entry PA programs are designed for motivated students who want to move from high school or the undergraduate years into a physician assistant or physician associate program through a structured pathway. Depending on the school, that may look like a 3+2, 4+2, 3+3, BA/MS, BS/MS, or reserved-seat model.
For this update, I counted only programs that currently advertise one of the following:
- A true high school/freshman-entry PA pathway,
- A combined or accelerated BS/MS, BA/MS, or BS/MHS structure, or
- A reserved or conditional undergraduate-to-graduate PA route housed at the same institution.
I did not count standard pre-PA advising majors that still require students to apply later through the regular graduate admissions pool with no reserved pathway. In other words, if the current official page now reads more like "prepare to apply later" than "start here as a direct-entry or accelerated PA student," I removed it from the main list.
Most direct-entry physician assistant programs are still conditional. Students may need to maintain GPA thresholds, complete patient care hours, interview successfully, meet professionalism standards, or pass a formal progression review before starting the professional PA phase. An understanding of the physician assistant's role is still expected.
If you are comparing direct entry PA programs, pay especially close attention to whether a school offers true direct admission, only a guaranteed interview, or a competitive secondary review before the graduate phase.
Want to filter these instead of scrolling a table? Every program below also lives in my free Direct Entry PA Programs directory on PA School Finder, where each listing shows the program’s actual pathway model — 3+2, 4+2, or freshman entry — and, importantly, whether the seat is truly guaranteed or whether it only earns you an interview. Every entry is re-verified from the program’s official site each month.
31 Current Direct Entry PA Programs and Accelerated BS/MS Pathways
The table below includes the current schools I could verify as direct-entry, accelerated, or reserved-pathway physician assistant programs as of July 11, 2026.
| Program | State | Current pathway model | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | NY | Early-assurance BS/PA partnership | Eligible first-year ACPHS students can secure a seat in Albany Med's PA program before classes begin; interview and progression standards apply. |
| Chatham University | PA | Integrated degree / pathway admission | Highly qualified first-year applicants can enter Chatham's integrated health-science pathways, including PA-related accelerated progression. |
| College of Saint Mary | NE | 3+2 Pre-PA Pathway | Current pathway accepts high school seniors and transfers; guaranteed admission into CSM's MSPAS if progression benchmarks are met. Note: the official PA page states the program was placed on ARC-PA Accreditation-Probation in June 2025. |
| Commonwealth University | PA | 3+2 and 4+2 Pre-PA options | The Lock Haven campus still advertises a direct-admission 3+2 option plus 4+2 routes; interview and progression requirements apply. |
| D'Youville University | NY | 4.5-year BS+MS pathway | D'Youville's official page currently describes this as a 4.5-year physician assistant program. |
| Daemen University | NY | Dual degree BS/MS pathway | The official page lists a Natural Science-Health Science, B.S. / Physician Assistant Studies, M.S. dual degree. |
| DeSales University | PA | Accelerated Medical Studies to PA pathway | DeSales continues to market the Medical Studies undergraduate pathway that feeds its PA graduate program. |
| Duquesne University | PA | Freshman-entry five-year pathway | Duquesne still advertises freshman admission and guaranteed-style progression into its PA program if standards are maintained. |
| Elon University | NC | Accelerated pathway to PA | Elon continues to advertise an accelerated PA pathway for undergraduates, with competitive progression criteria. |
| Gannon University | PA | Five-Year BS in Health Science + MPAS | Gannon's official undergraduate PA page still lists the five-year BS in Health Science / Master of Physician Assistant Science option. |
| Hofstra University | NY | Freshman-entry dual degree | Hofstra still has a dedicated freshman applicants page for its PA Studies dual-degree pathway. |
| Thomas Jefferson University | PA | 4+2 dual degree | Jefferson's official page currently lists a 4+2 Health Sciences BS / Physician Assistant Studies MS dual degree. |
| Kettering College | OH | MPAS Direct Admission | Kettering still offers direct admit status for exceptional high school students; it is available only to freshmen and requires strict progression standards. |
| King's College | PA | Accelerated undergraduate-to-PA pathway | King's continues to advertise an undergraduate route that progresses into its physician assistant program. |
| Le Moyne College | NY | Direct-entry PA Studies pathway | Le Moyne still maintains a dedicated direct-entry physician assistant studies page. |
| Marquette University | WI | Accelerated degree program | Marquette's official page still describes a biomedical sciences major with an accelerated PA degree option. |
| Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | MA | BS/MPAS pathway | MCPHS continues to list a BS in Premedical and Health Studies / MPAS pathway. |
| Mercy College of Ohio | OH | Pre-PA Direct Entry | Mercy's official page says direct-entry students are identified in high school and that admission into the direct-entry track is competitive. |
| New York Institute of Technology | NY | Life Sciences BS / PA Studies MS | New York Tech still lists a combined undergraduate-to-PA pathway. |
| Quinnipiac University | CT | Dual-degree BS / MHS in PA | Quinnipiac's official page currently describes an entry-level dual-degree BS in Health Science Studies / MHS in Physician Assistant. |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | NY | BS/MS Physician Assistant pathway | RIT still maintains an official Physician Assistant BS/MS program page. |
| Rutgers University | NJ | 3+3 BA/MS pathway | Rutgers still advertises a 3+3 BA/MS Physician Assistant pathway through Rutgers School of Health Professions. |
| Saint Francis University | PA | Accelerated PA Science pathway | Saint Francis still markets freshman-entry PA degree options through its physician assistant science pathway. |
| Seton Hall University | NJ | 3+3 dual degree | Seton Hall's current page describes a Biology BS / Physician Assistant MS dual degree, with graduate work beginning after the junior year for students in good standing. |
| Seton Hill University | PA | BS/MS direct-entry pathway | Seton Hill continues to advertise a BS/MS physician assistant pathway for first-year students. |
| Slippery Rock University | PA | SRU 3+2 pathway | SRU's official PA page still references its 3+2 pre-physician assistant route. |
| Springfield College | MA | Undergraduate-to-PA pathway | Springfield's current undergraduate PA studies page remains active and positions students for progression into the professional PA phase. |
| Union Adventist University | NE | Accelerated Pre-PA Biomedical Science (3+3) | Union still advertises a six-year accelerated pre-PA option and says its undergraduates receive preferred status when applying to Union's PA program. |
| University of Detroit Mercy | MI | Freshman-entry accelerated pathway | Detroit Mercy continues to market a freshman-entry physician assistant pathway with accelerated progression. |
| University of Evansville | IN | Accelerated undergraduate-to-PA pathway | Evansville's official physician assistant pathway page remains active for undergraduate applicants. |
| Wagner College | NY | BS/MS PA program | Wagner still maintains a dedicated BS/MS Physician Assistant Program page. |
Compare these programs side by side. The programs above are filterable on PA School Finder’s Direct Entry PA Programs page — compare them by GPA, GRE, prerequisites, tuition, and PANCE pass rate. Or use the free PA Program Match tool to narrow all 350+ accredited PA programs down to the ones that actually fit you.
Additional Direct Entry PA Program Partnership Pathway
Salus University still lists active physician assistant academic partnerships, including 3+2 and 4+2 arrangements plus guaranteed-interview agreements with selected undergraduate institutions. I did not add Salus to the main count above because these are partner-school pathways rather than a single campus-based direct-entry seat, but they are still worth knowing about if you are researching accelerated PA options and comparing similar direct entry PA programs.
Programs Removed From This Direct Entry PA Programs List
During this July 10, 2026 audit, I removed schools when the current official site now showed one of the following:
- a standard pre-PA or pre-health advising route that prepares students to apply later, but no longer advertises a true direct-entry seat or combined pathway,
- a graduate-only PA admissions page,
- an inactive, broken, or redirected legacy page, or
- an old arrangement that no longer appears on the current official site.
That group included legacy entries such as Arcadia, Butler, Drexel, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, Marywood, Nova Southeastern Fort Myers, Penn College, Shenandoah, Stockton, University of the Cumberlands, the former USP/Saint Joseph's linkage, University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne, and Valparaiso. I also excluded any program page that now clearly reads as "prepare to apply later" instead of "enter an accelerated or reserved-seat PA pathway now."
How to Compare Direct Entry PA Programs
If your goal is to find the best direct entry PA programs for high school seniors, start by narrowing the list by state, pathway type, and how much progression risk you are comfortable with. A 3+2 or 4+2 structure can save time, but some programs still require a formal progression review before the master's phase begins.
Before applying, verify:
- Whether the pathway is truly direct admission or only preferred consideration,
- The minimum GPA and science GPA required to keep your seat,
- Whether patient care hours are needed before matriculation,
- Whether an interview is still required before the professional phase, and
- The program's current ARC-PA accreditation status.
If you spot a launch, closure, merger, renamed page, or pathway change, let me know in the comments. These programs change often, and I now re-check them against current official university pages before adding them here.
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I think Stockton University in NJ has a 5 year.
Thank’s so much I have added it to the list!
Hello,
I graduated with a Cognitive Science BS degree from a 4 yr university. I am currently working on my phlebotomy certification as I look for medical assisting jobs that do not require certification. I have experience scribing and working as a chiropractic aide.
I have only completed inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry, stats and psychology.
I have a 2.6 GPA for undergrad, whereas PA programs require at minimum 3.0.
I know for a fact I want to go the PA route, so I want to move onto a dual-degree PA program, instead of doing my pre-reqs at a community college and then trying to apply. It would just give me more of a piece of mind, knowing I am in a program working towards what I want to eventually obtain. Also, I will be around people who are on the same career track as me.
Are there any accelerated PA programs for people who obtain a BS degree in something that doesn’t meet the PA program pre-reqs?
(I see a lot of these dual-degree programs are for High Schoolers only. I am looking for fast track programs for people who hold their BS degree in something else).
Thanks!
Hi, Lina, I am actually meeting with Joon Kim, director of the Keck Graduate Institute School of Applied Life Sciences who is creating a post-baccalaureate pre-PA program in February. This would likely be right down your ally as you already have your BS and are looking for a more “direct” route surrounded by other pre-PA or pre-med professionals. You can email him at [email protected] and he will be able to tell you more about their post-bac program and maybe provide you with some other options as well. This may be a good place to start your search. Their website is http://www.kgi.edu. They just have a premedical track now but will be implementing the pre-PA program shortly. I am not sure if there are other post-bac pre-PA programs out there, but I have a feeling there may be or certainly there are others in the development phase.
Stephen
Hi, I am a current freshman in high school and have been researching the PA position for several months. I have made my decision that after highschool I would like to attend a direct entry dual degree program in a college 5-5 1/2 year program. So far there are 38 programs, and most of them don’t suit my personality/location. I wanted to ask for your opinion if you think the number of direct entry or dual degree programs will increase by the time I’m a senior and have to make a decision to plan of what college to go to. Just asking ! Please answer asap. Preferably if there is going to be non competitive direct entry pa programs. My locations that are most important are: (whole state of NJ, or somewhere really close to the big Apple/NYC or that is in NYC). Will there be Direct entry pa programs in these particular areas that won’t require me to apply during my junior year because it is a direct entry, by the time I am a senior?
When I say junior year, I mean of college. Because for competitive programs they require you apply as a junior
Hi Yeng, unfortunately, I do not have the answer to your question. I would assume with the growth of PA programs nationwide we will continue to see more direct entry programs “popping up.” Here are all the programs in NJ, you may want to contact the programs directly, they may be able to give you a more concrete answer. https://www.paschoolfinder.com/?s=&category=&location=416&a=true
I wish you the best of luck!
Stephen
Butler no longer offers this direct admit program
Thank you so much, Morgan, I have removed it from the list. I really appreciate you taking the time to post this update!
Stephen
Hi- I am currently taking my pre-reqs at a Community College and I work full time at a hospital. I am very interested in becoming a PA but my downside is that I still need to be able to work as I completely support myself. That being said, do you know of any accredited PA programs that can be done online? So far I have only seen Yale offering one which is much more expensive than going to a local university that offers one but doesn’t allow for me to work.
Thanks!
Hi Tess, currently Yale is the only online offering. I know there are more in the pipeline. This is the future of education in general and as the details get ironed out I am sure they will be popping up all over the country. But until then…
Stephen
HI, it seems as if direct entry isn’t the same as freshman entry. We have visited a few schools and actually won’t be visiting a couple others because they don’t have freshman entry.
Thank you for this great resource.
Jane
U of Pitt has a guaranteed admission program
I don’t know all the details but Alderson Broaddus University also has an accredited PA program
I’d like to say Westminster College also offers a 3-3 program with Duquesne University. It’s three years of biology sciences at Westminster and then three years at Duquesne.
Thank you so much, Rachel, I have added this to the list!
Stephen
Westminster’s website states the incoming class of Fall 2017 is the last to be offered the opportunity to matriculate to Duquesne.
Hello, I just wanted to let you know that Slippery Rock University offers a 3+2 bs/ms PA program
Thank you so much, Dom, I have added it to the table. Do you know if they have a competitive process for advancement?
What is a 3+2 program? Does it guarentee placement in a PA program after receiving a bachelor’s?
Thanks!
Hi Connie, there are several iterations of this such as the 3 +3 programs. But generally, it is a program you must apply “into” and is composed of 3 years of undergrad with preparation and placement into a PA program upon completion of the required coursework and prerequisites. Followed by 2-3 years of graduate school work to get your MSPA degree. If you click on the school links in the above table you can read about the program offerings along with each school’s requirements.
Stephen
Hi, great resource, thank you.
Should the Seton Hall listing be Seton Hill as it lists the university is in PA?
Can you confirm that both Seton HALL and Seton HILL are accredited PA programs for freshman entry.
Jane
Hi Jane, you are absolutely correct. There are two separate BS/MS programs: Seton Hall and Seton Hill. I have updated the table to reflect these changes. Seton Hall is a 3 + 3 program with a competitive Junior year application while Seton Hill is a 2 + 3 program which you apply to and interview as a freshman. Thanks so much for the heads up!
Stephen
University of the Sciences (USP) in Philadelphia offers a 5-yr. (3+2) accelerated Pre-PA with PCOM.
Thanks so much Laura, I have added it to the list.
Stephen
I looked USP and it said that they voluntarily gave up their accreditation and will not accept any new students.
My son is looking into a 3-2 dual enrollment program at St. Francis University in Loretto, PA. I was wondering why it is not on the list. Thanks for your information and help.
Hi, Harriett, it is there now! Thanks so much for alerting me to this.
Stephen
ACPHS also offers a direct entry PA program
Thanks, Will I have added it to the list.
Stephen
Is there any direct entry PA programs that are in the south like the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, etc.?
Nova Southeastern in Ft Lauderdale
Any online programs for the BA and MS onto PA school
Let me know please
Hi Charles, not that I know of but I will keep you posted if I hear of anything.
Stephen
mY dAUGHTER GOT aCCEPTED AT seTON hALL uNIVERSITY FOR bs/ms pa pROGRAM. it IS NOT ON THIS LIST.
Thanks Raj,
It was on there I actually just had it spelled as Seton “Hill”.. Thanks for letting me know, I have updated the table with the correct changes.
Stephen
Seton Hill in PA also has a program
Hi My daughter is interested in the seton hall pa program. Do you know the requirements from high school?
Can you give some examples on what are good HCE and patient contact hours? THank you in Advanced.
Hi Tamera, here is a post a wrote on the topic. Let me know if you still have some questions! https://www.thepalife.com/hce-paschool/
Stephen
Hello – My daughter is a junior in college in a Pre-pa Kinesiology program. She is an emt and works on the emt team at her college and also at home with a firehouse. she has had some internships, shadowing and a mission trip. She also volunteered at a spanish-speaking health clinic, getting people signed up for a diabetes study group. All this to say that she is trying very hard to get enough health care experience hours but they’re not adding up very quickly. Any tips on finding volunteer assignments to get both experience and HCE hours? Also, do you think the variety of volunteering she has done will help her when it comes to the admissions decisions? (sorry about the all caps – can’t figure out why this is happening!)
HI Julie,
As a junior in college she is doing great! Sounds like she has a good head on her shoulders and has some wonderful experience. Some schools do accept volunteer hours as healthcare experience so the answer to your last question is yes. And beyond that, the kind of experience your daughter has completed is wonderful. She may consider taking a job in a clinic, ER or student health center. If she can complete all her experience hours while in school there is nothing wrong with using a gap year to work. The idea of starting PA school right out of undergrad is kind of a new one as it is. It is not impossible but the clinic where I work we have several new grads who are using a year to gain experience then moving onto PA school.
Stephen