Medical University of South Carolina Physician Assistant Program
Charleston, South Carolina · Masters
Tuition + fees $63,553 / $116,156 nonresident
Published full-program estimated tuition and fees, excluding insurance
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A closer look
Mission & approach
To enhance access to high-quality health care throughout South Carolina by educating physician assistants, using a holistic, mission-aligned admissions process that prioritizes applicants from underserved and South Carolina communities.
Admissions insights
What this program looks for in applicants
Holistic review with weighted 1-point categories: first-generation college; family on public assistance; from a HPSA/Medically Underserved Area; veteran; earned master's; English not primary language; 1,000+ patient care hours; undergrad GPA tiers; science GPA tiers; SC resident; parents in SC; attended SC high school. Plus personal statement, three references, technical standards.
Summarized from the program’s admissions information. Confirm current selection criteria with the program.
Program admissions informationHow this program interviews
Interviews are held in person on campus, September through November, and the program does not offer alternate interview dates. CASPA and the supplemental application are both due September 1, with decisions issued from early November into December.
Source checked Jul 25, 2026. Interview formats and dates can change between cycles.
Program interview informationAdmissions & prerequisites
Admission requirements
Prerequisite coursework
Credits are semester credits; the published total is 34.Review 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.
- Anatomy and physiology route: Human Anatomy with lab + Human Physiology with lab OR Anatomy & Physiology I and II sequence with labs
- Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry: Organic Chemistry OR Biochemistry
| Course | Credits | Lab | Min grade |
|---|---|---|---|
Biology with lab1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesOne separate course; it counts toward the 34-credit total. | 4Credits are semester credits; the published total is 34. | Required | C |
General Chemistry with labCourse notes & alternativesOne or more courses totaling 8 semester credits; program requires this as a separate prerequisite course category. | 8Credits are semester credits; the published total is 34. | Required | C |
| Human Anatomy with lab1 course(s) Separate anatomy prerequisite; combined A&P route must include both A&P I and II and labs to fulfill the separate anatomy and physiology categories. | 4Credits are semester credits; the published total is 34. | Required | C |
| Human Physiology with lab1 course(s) Separate physiology prerequisite; combined A&P route must include both A&P I and II and labs to fulfill the separate anatomy and physiology categories. | 4Credits are semester credits; the published total is 34. | Required | C |
| Anatomy & Physiology I and II sequence with labs2 course(s) Alternative route for both Human Anatomy and Human Physiology: complete both parts of A&P I and II, including labs. Do not treat a single A&P course as satisfying both requirements. | 8Credits are semester credits; the published total is 34. | Required | C |
Medical Terminology1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesMust be a graded college course; certificate/CEU coursework is not accepted. | 1Credits are semester credits; the published total is 34. | Not required | C |
Microbiology with lab1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesOne separate course. | 4Credits are semester credits; the published total is 34. | Required | C |
| Organic Chemistry1 course(s) Choose Organic Chemistry OR Biochemistry. The program does not specify a lab requirement; combined organic/biochemistry courses are not accepted. | 3Credits are semester credits; the published total is 34. | Not specified | C |
| Biochemistry1 course(s) Choose Biochemistry OR Organic Chemistry. The program does not specify a lab requirement; combined organic/biochemistry courses are not accepted. | 3Credits are semester credits; the published total is 34. | Not specified | C |
Psychology1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesIntroduction to Psychology or a higher-level psychology course. | 3Credits are semester credits; the published total is 34. | Not required | C |
Statistics or Biostatistics1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesChoose Statistics OR Biostatistics. | 3Credits are semester credits; the published total is 34. | Not required | C |
Policies that can change your plan
- Combined A&P
- The complete two-course A&P I and II sequence is needed to fulfill the separate anatomy and physiology areas; labs required.
- Chemistry
- MUSC does not accept combined organic chemistry and biochemistry; select one distinct 3-credit course.
- Cycle
- The current cycle is Summer 2028, with a deadline of September 1, 2027.
All courses must be completed within 10 years before you submit your application, with a grade of C or higher. At least 30 of the 34 credits must be done by the application deadline and the remaining 4 by matriculation. MUSC does not require the GRE, PA-CAT, MCAT, or patient-care hours, though patient care is recommended. Three references are required.
When courses must be complete: 30 of 34 credits by September 1, 2027 application deadline; remaining 4 credits by matriculation.
Dates & application steps
Published final deadline for Summer 2028 entry; CASPA opens April 30, 2027.
Summer 2028 entering cohort.
Know what the total includes
Published cost estimate
Published full-program estimated tuition and fees, excluding insurance$110,581 program + $5,575 program · Current published rates; future terms may change
Tuition is $57,978 in-state and $110,581 out-of-state for the full program. Required fees add $5,575, for $63,553 in-state and $116,156 out-of-state. Health insurance and living costs are extra.
Curriculum & clinical training
Residential didactic instruction
On-campus medical-science, clinical-skills, problem-solving and evidence-based coursework includes clinical experiences each semester.
Clinical education
Nine rotations include seven core areas, a program-assigned Adjunct Clinical Experience and an interest-based elective. A summative evaluation is required near graduation.
This is the Charleston residential route: seven sequential semesters and 116 credits. Clinical sites cover varied settings and locations, including South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida. Students do not have to find their own sites or preceptors. The length of clinical training in calendar months is not stated.
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: 94%
Class of 2025: 94% of first-time takers passed (89 of 95). Earlier classes: 2024 85% (74 of 87), 2023 88% (84 of 96), 2022 84% (77 of 92), 2021 84% (72 of 86). Five-year first-time rate for 2021-2025 is 87% (396 of 456 first-time takers passed).
- Five-year first-time PANCE pass rate: 87%
Accreditation history
Accredited-ContinuedSources you can open
Links to the program’s own pages and the official directories we use.
- Medical University of South Carolina curriculum
- Medical University of South Carolina program page
- Medical University of South Carolina program page
- Medical University of South Carolina program page
- ARC-PA currently accredited programs — sponsoring-institution directory
- Program contact 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.”
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