University of Maryland Eastern Shore Physician Assistant Program
Princess Anne, Maryland · Masters
Tuition + fees $80,100 / $126,000 nonresident
2026–2027 published rates; 120 credits over nine semesters
Check my fit with this school
Check three basics
Enter any GPA or patient care hours you know. We’ll compare them with this school’s published numbers. This is a starting point, not an eligibility decision.
The quick check needs JavaScript.
A closer look
A 28-month Maryland PA program with 30 seats, 500 direct patient-care hours, and 150 PA-shadowing hours.
Mission & approach
The Physician Assistant Department is a master degree granting educational program of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). As a component of the 1890 Land Grant University, it is committed to providing equal opportunity, especially to those of multicultural backgrounds. The program promotes health and wellness through the provision of quality primary care health education, in a diverse environment that values the discovery of knowledge, the development and dissemination, and practical application of that knowledge through community outreach and service. The department aims to educate and prepare competent and socially conscious clinical professionals to provide holistic, ethical, and compassionate care to meet the needs of diverse communities in local, state, national and global environments.
Admissions insights
What this program looks for in applicants
Strong mission-fit / underserved emphasis. Preferences for interview/admission: applicants from Health Personnel Shortage Areas (HPSA), Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P), underrepresented minorities in healthcare, males, first-generation, age >35, military veterans. HBCU graduates (UMES and other HBCU grads meeting all minimums) are guaranteed an interview. Also prefers sGPA >=3.2, cGPA >=3.2, healthcare experience requiring a technical certificate/degree/license, and >500 PCE hours. Personal statement weighted on interest in working in underserved/diverse communities.
Summarized from the program’s admissions information. Confirm current selection criteria with the program.
Program admissions informationHow this program interviews
Selected candidates are invited to interview between the fall and the first quarter of the following spring, based on criteria set by the Admissions Committee; not all qualified applicants receive an interview invitation. The site does not publish the interview format or delivery method.
Source checked Aug 1, 2026. Interview formats and dates can change between cycles.
Program interview informationAdmissions & prerequisites
Admission requirements
Prerequisite coursework
Semester credits unless notedReview each course, its lab, and the program’s policies. Your links are planning records; the program decides equivalency.
Courses shown as alternatives in the table are not all required. Confirm the accepted route with the program.
- Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry with lab: Organic Chemistry with lab OR Biochemistry with lab
| Course | Credits | Lab | Min grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Terminology | 3Semester credits unless noted | Not required | B- |
| Biology with lab | 4Semester credits unless noted | Required | B- |
| Microbiology | 3Semester credits unless noted | Not specified | B- |
| General Chemistry I with lab | 4Semester credits unless noted | Required | B- |
| Organic Chemistry with lab | 4Semester credits unless noted | Required | B- |
| Biochemistry with lab | 4Semester credits unless noted | Required | B- |
Human Anatomy or A&P ICourse notes & alternatives3–4 semester credits. | 3Semester credits unless noted | Not specified | B- |
Human Physiology or A&P IICourse notes & alternatives3–4 semester credits. | 3Semester credits unless noted | Not specified | B- |
| Psychology | 3Semester credits unless noted | Not required | B- |
| Statistics | 3Semester credits unless noted | Not required | B- |
Policies that can change your plan
All Medical Core prerequisites must be within six years of admission; a program-approved waiver is possible for documented continuous relevant employment or recent advanced coursework in the same subject. Course equivalence must be verified with the program. Applicants with foreign degrees must complete all Medical Core prerequisites in the United States. Labs for Microbiology and A&P are not separately stated.
Dates & application steps
CASPA closed November 1, 2026 for fall 2027 entry; degree completion must be verified by January 15, 2027.
This is the expected start of the entering class.
Know what the total includes
Published cost estimate
2026–2027 published rates; 120 credits over nine semesters$949 credit × 120 required credits · Projected full-program tuition at current rates; fees and living costs are separate, and rates may change.
Tuition is $67,980 for residents and $113,880 for nonresidents. University fees add $12,120, for totals of $80,100 and $126,000. Eastern Shore regional tuition is $84,660 ($96,780 with fees). Estimated PA costs of $12,013 (including books and equipment) are separate; with them the totals are $92,113 / $138,013 (regional $108,793).
Curriculum & clinical training
Didactic education
Basic medical science and clinical methods emphasize patient interaction and teamwork.
Clinical education
Eight five-week rotations include seven core disciplines and an elective, with two callback days at each rotation’s end.
The Princess Anne UMES route spans 28 months with a primary-care emphasis.
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: 92%
No 5-year average yet - only FOUR graduating cohorts (2022-2025); 89% first-time across them (74/83)
- Five-year first-time PANCE pass rate: Not available yet
Five-year first-time results are not yet available.
Accreditation history
ContinuedSources you can open
Links to the program’s own pages and the official directories we use.
- ARC-PA currently accredited programs — sponsoring-institution directory
- Program program page
- Program program page
- Program program page
- Program program page
- Program program page
- University of Maryland Eastern Shore curriculum and clinical training
- Program program page
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.”
How competitive are you for this program?
Match AI compares your full profile with this program and every other one, then sorts your list into Reach, Target and Safety.