Western Michigan University Physician Assistant Program
Kalamazoo, Michigan · Master of Science in Medicine
Tuition + fees $86,224
2026–2027 rate-based estimate · 95 credits
A closer look
A 24-month physician assistant program in Kalamazoo using recent academic performance, direct patient contact, service, and professional preparation in admissions review.
Mission & approach
Educate physician assistants to provide competent, compassionate, and inclusive care across Michigan and beyond.
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Check three basics
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Admissions insights
What this program looks for in applicants
Highly competitive structured holistic scoring on 50+ data points (academics/trends, HCE, service, leadership, resilience, professionalism, communication, mission fit). Min bachelor's, 3.0 GPA in last 60 cr, 1,000 HCE hrs incl. direct patient contact (shadowing excluded). No GRE/GMAT/MCAT.
Summarized from the program’s admissions information. Confirm current selection criteria with the program.
Program admissions information2026 PAEA Virtual Admissions Fair
For applicants carrying an older academic record, the program said something worth reading twice: the admissions committee evaluates the CASPA-recalculated GPA for the last 60 credits rather than the cumulative GPA sitting on an old transcript. If your early coursework no longer represents you, recent work is what the committee is looking at. The team was equally clear on the other side of it: the program does not waive prerequisite courses, and noted that prerequisite waivers are rare in PA admissions generally. Admission runs on a single annual cycle, so a missed deadline is a full year rather than a few months.
Shared at the fair on Aug 22, 2026; paraphrased program-level notes. This is a past event, not an upcoming session. Confirm current guidance with the program.
About these fair notes
PAEA Virtual PA Admissions Fair (CareerEco), August 22 2026 - program-level, paraphrased; qualitative only
How this program interviews
Selected WMU PA candidates are invited to participate in an interview session and the admitted class is chosen from the interview pool, but the program's apply page does not state whether interviews are held on campus or virtually.
Source checked Aug 1, 2026. Interview formats and dates can change between cycles.
Program interview informationAdmissions & prerequisites
Admission requirements
Prerequisite coursework
Semester creditsReview each course, its lab, and the program’s policies. Your links are planning records; the program decides equivalency.
| Course | Credits | Lab | Min grade |
|---|---|---|---|
Human Anatomy1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesAnatomy and Physiology I and II may satisfy the Anatomy requirement, but they do not satisfy the separate Physiology requirement. Confirm equivalency with Western Michigan University. | 3Semester credits | Not specified | C |
Upper-level Human Physiology1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesUpper-level Human Physiology is separately required. Pathophysiology does not count; A&P I/II do not count for this requirement. | 3Semester credits | Not specified | C |
Microbiology with lab1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesFour credits with an accompanying lab. | 4Semester credits | Required | C |
Upper-level Biochemistry1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesUpper-level Biochemistry is required; Organic Chemistry is not a substitute. | 3Semester credits | Not specified | C |
Developmental Psychology (Lifespan)1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesMust cover birth through death. Introductory and Abnormal Psychology do not count; Human Growth and Development or Human Development may be accepted as titles. | 3Semester credits | Not specified | C |
Introductory Statistics1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesMust contain descriptive analysis and inferential methods. | 3Semester credits | Not specified | C |
Policies that can change your plan
The program determines course equivalency. A&P I/II are accepted for Anatomy only and do not replace upper-level Physiology. Organic Chemistry does not replace Biochemistry. Lab requirements are specified only for Microbiology.
When courses must be complete: All six prerequisite courses must be completed by December 31 of the application year with a grade of C or better.
Dates & application steps
Submit your application and supporting documents to CASPA by December 1. The $50 Western Michigan University supplemental fee is also due December 1. The program tells you whether your application is complete or incomplete after review. It doesn't say whether CASPA must verify it by the deadline.
Know what the total includes
Published cost estimate
2026–2027 rate-based estimate · 95 creditsEstimated nonresident tuition for the full program at 2026–27 rates, not including fees.
Estimated full-program tuition at 2026–27 rates is $83,328 for residents and $127,362 for nonresidents. The 24-month program spans three academic years. These are estimates and may change. Required fees and living expenses are separate from tuition.
Curriculum & clinical training
Classroom and laboratory preparation
48 credits of medical sciences, clinical skills and research.
Clinical education
47 credits of core experiences, two electives, seminars and research; clinical callbacks remain in person.
24-month, 95-credit in-person program. The program does not offer a hybrid or asynchronous route.
The admitted class
Published class statistics describe the named cohort or population. They are not admission minimums or acceptance probabilities.
The program’s track record
Graduate outcomes
PANCE pass rates
See first-time program performance with clearly dated national context.
- First-time PANCE pass rate: 97%
- Five-year first-time PANCE pass rate: 86%
Accreditation history
ContinuedSources you can open
Links to the program’s own pages and the official directories we use.
- WMU PA program
- Western Michigan University curriculum/program program page
- WMU PA application requirements
- ARC-PA currently accredited programs — sponsoring-institution directory
About the U.S. News rank
The U.S. News PA rank uses the 2025 PA edition, matched to the listed program and campus. It reflects peer-assessed reputation, not admissions odds or a personal fit score. Programs without a separate entry are labeled “Unranked.”
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