Louisiana State University – New Orleans Physician Assistant Program
New Orleans, Louisiana · Masters
A closer look
Primary care-focused Master of Physician Assistant Studies program in New Orleans, with clinical training at a variety of sites throughout Louisiana.
Mission & approach
Prepares well-educated physician assistants, with a focus on primary care.
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.
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Admissions insights
What this program looks for in applicants
Strong Louisiana-resident preference (residents given preference; out-of-state face higher bar: 3.5/3.5 GPA, 40 hrs PA shadowing, GRE >=300 + 3.5 AW or PA-CAT >=520). Scored on cumulative/science/prerequisite GPAs, GRE or PA-CAT, direct healthcare hours, shadowing, personal statement, and reference quality; MMI interview. Focus on primary care.
Summarized from the program’s admissions information. Confirm current selection criteria with the program.
Program admissions informationHow this program interviews
LSU New Orleans uses a multiple mini-interview (MMI).
Source checked Jul 14, 2026. Interview formats and dates can change between cycles.
Program interview informationAdmissions & prerequisites
Admission requirements
Overall GPA exception pathway
The overall GPA threshold depends on Louisiana residency.
Science GPA policy & alternatives
The science GPA threshold is 3.0 for Louisiana residents and 3.5 for out-of-state applicants.
Prerequisite coursework
Semester creditsReview 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: Anatomy with lab + Physiology with lab OR Anatomy & Physiology I and II with labs
- Organic chemistry or biochemistry: Organic Chemistry with lab OR Biochemistry with lab
| Course | Credits | Lab | Min grade |
|---|---|---|---|
General Chemistry I and II with labs2 course(s)Course notes & alternativesTwo-course sequence; 8 credits total. A course cannot count toward more than one requirement. | 8Semester credits | Required | C |
Microbiology or Bacteriology with labCourse notes & alternativesCourses with different titles are accepted; 4 credits. | 4Semester credits | Required | C |
| Anatomy with lab Human or comparative anatomy. May be replaced by the complete A&P I/II sequence that satisfies both anatomy and physiology requirements. | 4Semester credits | Required | C |
| Physiology with lab General, human, or comparative. A 3000/4000-level physiology with lab also qualifies; LSU A&M BIOL 2160 is accepted. | 4Semester credits | Required | C |
| Anatomy & Physiology I and II with labs2 course(s) Alternative route satisfying both anatomy and physiology requirements; must be taken in sequence and all 8 credits completed. | 8Semester credits | Required | C |
Biological science electives2 course(s)Course notes & alternativesElectives should have a biological-science prefix, be 300/3000+ level, and relate to medicine or the human body. Professional courses do not qualify. | 8Semester credits | Not specified | C |
GeneticsCourse notes & alternatives3 credits; no lab requirement specified. | 3Semester credits | Not specified | C |
| Organic Chemistry with lab Alternative: Biochemistry with lab. 4 credits. | 4Semester credits | Required | C |
| Biochemistry with lab Alternative to Organic Chemistry with lab. 4 credits. | 4Semester credits | Required | C |
College Algebra or higherCourse notes & alternatives3 credits. | 3Semester credits | Not specified | C |
Statistics with ANOVA and/or multiple regressionCourse notes & alternatives3 credits; must include analysis of variance and/or multiple regression. | 3Semester credits | Not specified | C |
Behavioral Sciences: Sociology or Psychology coursesCourse notes & alternatives6 credits total in Sociology or Psychology. The exact split between the two is not specified, so do not assume one course in each. | 6Semester credits | Not specified | C |
Policies that can change your plan
- Elective course acceptance: check with the program.
- Confirm prerequisite details for the current cycle with the program.
- Behavioral course split: check with the program.
- Confirm prerequisite details for the current cycle with the program.
A course cannot count toward more than one requirement. All science courses must be for science majors. Coursework must be from a regionally accredited institution, and online courses are accepted. Only Louisiana residents may have courses in progress at application; all must be complete by December 31 before you start. Check with the program about how the behavioral-science courses are split and about biological-science electives.
Dates & application steps
Prior cycle deadline 2026-08-01 has passed; next cycle date is not published. Confirm with program.
Know what the total includes
Published cost estimate
Confirm current cohortConfirm rates for your entering cohort
Total tuition through graduation is $50,451 (tuition only), based on 2025–2026 rates.
Curriculum & clinical training
Didactic education
Medical sciences, clinical medicine, diagnosis, ethics, culture, prevention, interprofessional learning, and research prepare students for practice and a master’s project.
Clinical education
Experiences include emergency, inpatient and outpatient internal medicine, family medicine, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral medicine, and surgery across Louisiana.
The New Orleans program lasts 29 months. Clinical settings include urban medical centers, rural hospitals and clinics, and private practices; rotation sequencing varies by student.
The admitted class
Graduating Class of 2028
Published class statisticsThese are averages for the enrolled Class of 2028. The average of 2,661 healthcare experience hours is not a direct patient-care figure. An earlier 3.66 GPA figure is not tied to a confirmed class, and 3.5 is not this class's average science GPA.
Compare published cohorts
| Class | Published GPA | Published science-related GPA | Published experience hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduating Class of 2028 | 3.76Mean overall GPA | 3.70Mean science GPA | 2,661Mean health-care experience hours |
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%
- Five-year first-time PANCE pass rate: 92%
Accreditation history
ContinuedSources you can open
Links to the program’s own pages and the official directories we use.
- Louisiana State University – New Orleans program overview
- Louisiana State University – New Orleans curriculum
- PA Admissions Guideline 2026
- Louisiana State University – New Orleans program page
- PA School Finder deadline record
- 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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