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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If I make it into the direct entry pa program and go through the bachelors program what happens if you don’t make it into the professional/pa school phase? Will a normal pa school accept your bachelors degree even though it is 3 instead of 4 years?
Hi Mia,
This is an important question that requires careful consideration. The structure and outcomes of direct-entry PA programs can vary by institution, so I recommend checking with each specific program about their policies. However, I can provide some general guidance:
1. Bachelor’s Degree Completion:
– Most direct-entry PA programs are designed to award you a full bachelor’s degree, even if completed in 3 years
– This degree should be recognized by other PA programs, but you’ll want to verify that you’ve completed all prerequisite courses required by other programs
2. If You Don’t Progress to the PA Phase:
– Many programs will allow you to complete your bachelor’s degree even if you don’t continue to the PA portion
– You may need to take additional courses to round out your degree requirements
– The specific degree awarded might be different than originally planned (e.g., Biology instead of Pre-PA Studies)
3. Important Steps to Take:
– Research backup plans at your chosen institution
– Ask about their retention/progression rates
– Understand exactly what degree you’ll earn if you don’t continue to the PA phase
– Verify that your coursework will meet prerequisites for other PA programs
4. Recommendations:
– Get these answers in writing from the program
– Consider meeting with an advisor to discuss contingency plans
– Research traditional PA programs’ prerequisites to ensure alignment
I encourage you to contact the specific programs you’re interested in to get detailed information about their policies and procedures. Each program may handle these situations differently.
What about non high school students? I am a 36 year old Medical Assistant with 15 years’ experience in the field. Is there a direct entry program for someone like me?
Hi Shawna,
While there aren’t typically “direct entry” programs specifically for experienced healthcare professionals, your 15 years of clinical experience would make you a strong candidate for traditional PA programs.
Most PA programs require:
A bachelor’s degree
Prerequisite science courses (biology, chemistry, anatomy & physiology, etc.)
Direct patient care experience (which you have in abundance!)
GRE scores (though some programs don’t require this)
Your 15 years as an MA would likely exceed the patient care experience requirements for most programs. Many schools view non-traditional students with extensive healthcare experience very favorably, as they bring valuable real-world perspective and clinical skills to the program.
I recommend:
– Check if you have the required bachelor’s degree and prerequisites
– Research PA programs in your area or programs that interest you
Use the PA School Finder tool at http://www.paschoolfinder.com to identify programs that match your qualifications
– Contact programs directly to discuss your specific situation and any additional requirements you might need
Don’t let your age deter you – PA programs often have students across a wide age range, and your extensive clinical experience would be an asset both in school and in your future PA career.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I’m happy to provide more specific guidance as you explore this path.
Best regards,
Stephen
Hi! I’m a high school senior interested in an accelerated PA program. I have a 30 act (I’m hoping to boost it to an 32/33 after retaking it) and a 4.8 weighted gpa (pretty much all As honors/AP science and math). I have good leadership positions and a few science related extracurriculars but I don’t have any health care experience or PA shadowing or anything like that. I was wondering if I would be a strong applicant as is, or if my lack of healthcare experience would be a problem. If so, would getting some PA shadow hours or some other healthcare or volunteer hours between now and submitting applications in the fall be enough to make me a strong candidate?
Thanks!
Can you please advise what should to look for a in Direct-Admit PA program? Aside from length of the program, what are key things a HS Senior so look for when comparing schools?
Hello, is this applicable to international students that have a pre-professional degree in human biology? Can such person go straight into the professional phase?
Hi Stephanie! I am going to refer you to this post written by Shynar Johnson who is a consultant with us an IMG from Kazakhstan who is currently in PA school: https://www.thepalife.com/how-to-become-a-pa-for-international-medical-graduates/
If you have additional questions I would recommend booking a 1-hour consultation with Shynar. She is amazing!
Stephen
Are any of these programs opened to non-high school students? From what I keep finding, direct programs seem to be catered to current high-school students.
It’s hard to say Gloria as this will be specific to each program. If you’re a non-high school student interested in these programs, you should consult with individual institutions about the availability of this opportunity and program requirements.
Stephen
Hi there, I’m a pre-health adviser at Clarkson University NY and would appreciated it if you would add our Direct Entry BS/MS-PA program to your list, please! Accepted students complete their 4 yr undergraduate degree at Clarkson and, assuming academic requirements are met, matriculate directly into the 2 yr PA program. Students accepted into the program are currently eligible to receive up to $20,000 in scholarships for each of the undergraduate and graduate phases respectively.
https://www.clarkson.edu/undergraduate/physician-assistant-studies
Hello, are there any schools that offer this in California around San diego area? Please help, I am a highschool graduate and had obtained pharmacy technician license in a trade school. I want to be a PA but not sure what I have to do first, also looking for something that is direct entry so I can just focus only onto to my route becoming a PA and not being competitive with others.