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Address & Contact

Our Address

Desales University Physician Assistant Program 2755 Station Avenue Center Valley, PA 18034

GPS

40.5370577, -75.3789675

Telephone

610-282-1100 x1415

Email

[email protected]

Web

Email PA Program
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PROGRAM PROFILE

DeSales University Physician Assistant Program

Center Valley, Pennsylvania · Masters

Continued accreditation ↓On Campus ↓24 months ↓
Save schoolCheck my fitSee where you're competitive — Match AIProgram website
Application deadline Dec 1, 2026Verified by deadline
Tuition $102,900 (estimate)Same for residents and nonresidents
Tuition + fees $110,400
2026–27 published semester rate; six-semester estimate
Class size 47 studentsPAEA's estimate, supplied by the program, for the August 2027 incoming class. It is not an approved maximum or an actual enrollment count. DeSales anticipates 45–50 graduate students.
Program length 24 monthsFull program
GRE requirement One of PA-CAT, GRE, or MCAT requiredSubmit one of PA-CAT, GRE, or MCAT by December 1. The school says applicants should aim for PA-CAT 483, GRE 290, or MCAT 491; these are targets, not hard cutoffs. GRE code: 0540.
Patient-care minimum 500 U.S. direct patient-care hours before matriculation; 250 recommended by application; up to 50 virtual shadowing hours may countAt least 500 U.S.-completed direct patient-care hours are required before late-August matriculation. The school recommends 250 by CASPA submission. Paid, volunteer, or shadowing experience may count; no more than 50 virtual-shadowing hours are accepted with CASPA contact information.
Overall GPA minimum 3.00CASPA-verified cumulative overall GPA of at least 3.0.
Science GPA minimum 3.00CASPA-verified cumulative science GPA of at least 3.0.
PANCE pass rate 96%First-time pass rateFive-year first-time: 97%
U.S. News PA rank #26 (tie)2025 PA edition · Peer-assessed reputation
THE PROGRAM

A closer look

MSPAS program at a Catholic, Salesian university that grounds PA training in Christian humanistic values and service, with nine five-week clinical-year rotations.

Mission & approach

DeSales is a Catholic, Salesian university that energizes transformative learning through the liberal arts and professional studies. Fostering dynamic relationships and moral, spiritual, and intellectual virtues, we grow as a community to stand for and with others to advance their dignity and serve the common good.

DeSales University Gambet Center, home of the Physician Assistant program
DeSales University Gambet Center for Business and Healthcare, home of the Physician Assistant program.
YOUR PROFILE & THIS PROGRAM

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BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Admissions insights

What this program looks for in applicants

Requires bachelor's from regionally accredited institution, CASPA-verified cumulative and science GPA >=3.0, and one of PA-CAT, GRE, or MCAT (published score targets of 483, 290, and 491 respectively; these are not stated hard cutoffs) by Dec 1. Min 500 hours direct patient care (paid, volunteer, or shadowing). Ten prerequisite courses (>=3 credits each) completed with grade 2.0+ before matriculation. Competitive matriculant profile (5-cycle avg): 3.79…

Summarized from the program’s admissions information. Confirm current selection criteria with the program.

Program admissions information
YOUR STARTING POINT

Admissions & prerequisites

Admission requirements

GREOne of PA-CAT, GRE, or MCAT requiredSubmit one of PA-CAT, GRE, or MCAT by December 1. The school says applicants should aim for PA-CAT 483, GRE 290, or MCAT 491; these are targets, not hard cutoffs. GRE code: 0540.
Patient care500 U.S. direct patient-care hours before matriculationAt least 500 U.S.-completed direct patient-care hours are required before late-August matriculation. The school recommends 250 by CASPA submission. Paid, volunteer, or shadowing experience may count; no more than 50 virtual-shadowing hours are accepted with CASPA contact information.
Overall GPA3.0 minimum cumulative GPACASPA-verified cumulative overall GPA of at least 3.0.
Science GPA3.0 minimum science GPACASPA-verified cumulative science GPA of at least 3.0.
Recommendations3–5 lettersSubmit at least three and at most five letters. Instructors, academic advisors, and supervisors are appropriate; avoid brief shadowing-only contacts, relatives, and friends.
International applicantsAccepted, with conditions.International applicants are accepted. If you have foreign degrees or coursework, DeSales directs you to a CASPA transcript evaluation, and a conditional TOEFL rule applies. Confirm your individual visa and degree eligibility with the program.
English proficiencyConditional TOEFL 90Applicants from a country where English is not the primary language must submit TOEFL with a minimum overall score of 90. No PA-specific alternate exam or score-age rule is published.

Prerequisite coursework

Credits; each course has a minimum of 3 credits. Whether these are semester or quarter credits is not specified.

Review each course, its lab, and the program’s policies. Your links are planning records; the program decides equivalency.

CourseCreditsLabMin grade
English Composition I and II2 course(s)
Course notes & alternatives

Two courses, each at least 3 credits. A writing-intensive course can substitute when English Composition was not required in the applicant's curriculum. AP courses satisfy this requirement in this context. AP acceptance does not apply to other prerequisites.

6Credits; each course has a minimum of 3 credits. Whether these are semester or quarter credits is not specified.Not specifiedNot specified
General Psychology1 course(s)
Course notes & alternatives

One course, minimum 3 credits.

3Credits; each course has a minimum of 3 credits. Whether these are semester or quarter credits is not specified.Not specifiedNot specified
Statistics1 course(s)
Course notes & alternatives

One course, minimum 3 credits.

3Credits; each course has a minimum of 3 credits. Whether these are semester or quarter credits is not specified.Not specifiedNot specified
General Biology1 course(s)
Course notes & alternatives

One course, minimum 3 credits; no lab requirement stated.

3Credits; each course has a minimum of 3 credits. Whether these are semester or quarter credits is not specified.Not specifiedNot specified
General Chemistry1 course(s)
Course notes & alternatives

One course, minimum 3 credits; no lab requirement stated.

3Credits; each course has a minimum of 3 credits. Whether these are semester or quarter credits is not specified.Not specifiedNot specified
Organic Chemistry1 course(s)
Course notes & alternatives

One course, minimum 3 credits; no lab requirement stated.

3Credits; each course has a minimum of 3 credits. Whether these are semester or quarter credits is not specified.Not specifiedNot specified
Microbiology1 course(s)
Course notes & alternatives

One course, minimum 3 credits. It must be taken within five years of applying.

3Credits; each course has a minimum of 3 credits. Whether these are semester or quarter credits is not specified.Not specifiedNot specified
Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II2 course(s)
Course notes & alternatives

Two courses, each at least 3 credits. Both must be taken within five years of applying. Lab requirement is not stated.

6Credits; each course has a minimum of 3 credits. Whether these are semester or quarter credits is not specified.Not specifiedNot specified

Policies that can change your plan

Minimum grade
At least 2.0 in each prerequisite; the equivalent letter grade is not specified.
Course recency
Microbiology and Human A&P I/II within five years of applying; active medical work may support an exception.
Labs
A science lab is recommended for newly taken courses, not stated as a universal requirement.
A&P alternative
An older, undated program PDF lists separate Anatomy and Physiology, while the current admissions page lists A&P I/II. Confirm the separate route with DeSales before relying on it.

CASPA verification is due December 1. No more than two prerequisites may remain incomplete after the deadline, and all must be finished before matriculation. Lab requirements are not listed on the current admissions page. An older, undated program PDF lists separate Human Anatomy and Human Physiology courses; confirm with DeSales that this option is still accepted. The 2.0 minimum grade is not tied to a specific letter grade. The program's FAQ recommends a lab when you take a new science course, but says a science course you already completed does not need to be retaken for a lab.

When courses must be complete: CASPA application verified by December 1; at most two prerequisite courses may remain after that deadline. All prerequisite coursework must be completed with a grade of at least 2.0 before matriculation.

DeSales University MSPAS graduate admissions requirements Checked 2026-09-24
BUILD YOUR TIMELINE

Dates & application steps

Application deadlineDec 1, 2026

CASPA application verified by December 1; no supplemental application

2026–2027
THE FINANCIAL PICTURE

Know what the total includes

Published cost estimate

2026–27 published semester rate; six-semester estimate
Resident tuition$102,900 projected full-program tuition
Nonresident tuition$102,900 projected full-program tuition

$17,150 semester × 6 documented semesters · Future semester rates may change

Required program fees$7,500
Tuition + required feesExcludes living and other expenses
$110,400

Tuition is $102,900 for the full program: six semesters at the 2026–27 rate of $17,150 per semester, which may change. Professional fees of $7,500 are published separately, bringing tuition plus fees to $110,400. The school's broader $167,380 estimate also includes housing, transportation, and other costs.

HOW YOU’LL LEARN

Curriculum & clinical training

01Year 1

Didactic study

Clinical medicine, pathophysiology, and pharmacology are integrated with anatomy, clinical skills, diagnostic methods, and early professional experiences.

02Clinical year

Supervised practice

Nine five-week rotations include emergency care, two family medicine experiences, internal medicine, women’s health, pediatrics, psychiatry, surgery, and an elective.

The full-time, in-person program lasts 24 months and requires 99 credits. The program arranges rotations within 60 miles of campus; students are not required to obtain sites or preceptors.

DeSales University curriculum Checked 2026-09-26
WHO STUDIES HERE

The admitted class

Last five admission cycles; the specific years are not stated

Published class statistics
Overall GPA3.79
Science GPA3.75
Patient-care hours2,165

These are pooled averages for matriculants across several cycles, not a single entering class.

Compare published cohorts
ClassPublished GPAPublished science-related GPAPublished experience hours
Last five admission cycles; the specific years are not stated3.793.752,165

Published class statistics describe the named cohort or population. They are not admission minimums or acceptance probabilities.

OUTCOMES & OVERSIGHT

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: 96%
  • Five-year first-time PANCE pass rate: 97%

Accreditation history

Continued
First accreditedApril 1997
Next reviewJuly 2027
ARC-PA currently accredited programs — sponsoring-institution directory Checked 2026-09-26
CHECK THE EVIDENCE

Sources you can open

Links to the program’s own pages and the official directories we use.

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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