Tuition + fees $96,424 / $103,852 nonresident
Published full-program tuition
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A closer look
A Hershey PA program embedded in an academic medical center, integrating biomedical science, clinical training, and interprofessional care.
Mission & approach
Prepare graduates to be academically, clinically, professionally, and culturally competent PAs devoted to serving patients in their communities; emphasizes humanism in medicine, critical thinking, primary care, and underserved communities.
Admissions insights
What this program looks for in applicants
Holistic review; academic metrics alone do not determine selection. Interview PREFERENCE given to: residence in rural/federally designated underserved community, educationally/economically disadvantaged background, first-generation college student, veteran/active-duty military, Pennsylvania residency, Penn State graduates, Penn State Health employees, holders of an advanced degree. Reviews cGPA,…
Summarized from the program’s admissions information. Confirm current selection criteria with the program.
Program admissions informationHow this program interviews
For the 2026-2027 cycle Penn State holds its interview day virtually and includes a one-on-one interview with the program director along with a faculty, staff, and alumni panel, a program presentation, and a session with current students.
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.
Courses shown as alternatives in the table are not all required. Confirm the accepted route with the program.
- Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry: Biochemistry OR Organic Chemistry
| Course | Credits | Lab | Min grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Biology | Not publishedSemester credits | Not specified | C |
AnatomyCourse notes & alternativesOne semester of Anatomy plus one semester of Physiology, or two semesters of combined A&P. | Not publishedSemester credits | Not specified | C |
PhysiologyCourse notes & alternativesOne semester of Physiology plus one of Anatomy, or two semesters of combined A&P. | Not publishedSemester credits | Not specified | C |
MicrobiologyCourse notes & alternativesCourses must be within seven years, unless you have worked continuously full-time in healthcare (waiver). | Not publishedSemester credits | Not specified | C |
| General or Principles of Chemistry | Not publishedSemester credits | Not specified | C |
| Organic Chemistry Alternative to Biochemistry. | Not publishedSemester credits | Not specified | C |
| Biochemistry Alternative to Organic Chemistry. | Not publishedSemester credits | Not specified | C |
| General Psychology | Not publishedSemester credits | Not specified | C |
| Statistics or Biostatistics | Not publishedSemester credits | Not specified | C |
English Composition or writing-intensive coursework2 course(s)Course notes & alternativesTwo semesters or two writing-intensive courses. | Not publishedSemester credits | Not specified | C |
Policies that can change your plan
- Recency waiver
- The seven-year limit for A&P and Microbiology may be waived for continuous full-time healthcare employment.
A grade of C or higher is required. Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology must be within seven years, unless you have worked continuously full-time in healthcare since the coursework. Exact credits and labs are not published. Medical Terminology is not a prerequisite.
Dates & application steps
Check with the program on whether CASPA must have processed your application by this date.
Know what the total includes
Published cost estimate
Published full-program tuitionPublished nonresident full-program tuition
The program lists total tuition and fees of $96,424 for in-state students and $103,852 for out-of-state students. Living and other expenses are extra.
Curriculum & clinical training
Didactic education
Biomedical and clinical foundations develop patient assessment, clinical reasoning and procedural skills.
Clinical education
Supervised five-week rotation blocks accompany callback assessments and capstone work. Faculty assign sites; elective and selective requests depend on availability.
The Hershey program publishes 24 months and 101 credits. Students may suggest potential sites but may not arrange or solicit placements.
The admitted class
Class of 2027
Published class statisticsStatistics for the class listed above.
Compare published cohorts
| Class | Published GPA | Published science-related GPA | Published experience hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2027 | 3.85 | 3.80 | Not recorded |
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: 100%
- Five-year first-time PANCE pass rate: 99%
Accreditation history
ContinuedSources you can open
Links to the program’s own pages and the official directories we use.
- Penn State University PA admissions requirements
- Penn State University curriculum and clinical training
- Penn State University published class statistics
- 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.”
How competitive are you for this program?
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