PA Applicant Statistics: What the PAEA 2024-25 Data Shows
The PAEA Applicant and Matriculant Report for the 2024-25 cycle is the most authoritative single source on what PA school applicants look like at scale. This post is a walkthrough of the numbers that matter for the 2026-27 cycle.
The headline numbers
| Metric | 2024-25 | vs 2020-21 |
|---|---|---|
| Total applicants | 34,625 | +14.1% |
| Total matriculants | 12,636 | +12.8% |
| Participating CASPA programs | 301 | +12.3% |
| Aggregate matriculation rate | ~36% | ≈ flat |
| Average applications per applicant | 8.45 | rising |
Accepted-applicant academic profile
| Metric | Accepted average | Non-accepted average |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative GPA | 3.60 | 3.28 |
| Science GPA | 3.50 | 3.17 |
| Non-science GPA | 3.60 | - |
| CASPA BCP GPA | 3.50 | - |
Accepted-applicant clinical profile
| Hours category | Accepted average |
|---|---|
| Patient Care Experience (PCE) | 2,669 hours |
| Healthcare Experience (HCE) | 1,490 hours |
| Community service | 378 hours |
| Healthcare shadowing | 108 hours |
How to read averages without misreading them
The accepted-applicant average is the median-ish input from applicants who matriculated. It is not the floor required to apply, and it is not the ceiling above which you are guaranteed to get in. Three traps to avoid:
- The mean hides the distribution. Some accepted applicants have GPAs under 3.0 with extraordinary other parts of their file. Some have 4.0 GPAs and bare-minimum PCE. The 3.60 average does not mean every accepted applicant has a 3.60 - and the per-program matriculant median vs published minimum gap is where school-list strategy actually lives.
- Averages are not sufficient signals. A 3.60 GPA accepted to PA school had something that pushed the file across - a strong essay, a competitive PCE total, a coherent narrative, a program-mission match. The GPA alone does not get you in.
- Averages drift cycle to cycle. Applicant volume has been rising 2-4% per year for several cycles. Per-program competitiveness has held steady on aggregate but tightened at the most desirable programs. The 2024-25 average is probably 0.02-0.05 GPA points higher than the 2020-21 average for the same programs.
What the trend lines suggest for 2026-27
- Applicant volume continues to rise. The 2026-27 cycle is likely to see 35,000-37,000 total applicants based on trend.
- Matriculant volume is rising more slowly than applicant volume. The aggregate competitiveness is creeping upward, modestly.
- The 8.45 average applications per applicant is up from approximately 7.4 five years ago. Applicants are casting wider nets, which is consistent with the strategic guidance in the how many programs post.
- The new mandatory CASPA AI essay is the structural change for 2026-27. Covered in the AI rules post.
What I draw from the data
The numbers tell a steady story: the cycle is more competitive than it was five years ago by a small but consistent amount, the typical accepted file is a 3.6 GPA with about 2,700 hours of PCE, and the variance around that average is large enough that individual files outside the average matriculate at meaningful rates if the rest of the file is strong. The applicants who lose cycles to "stats" usually lose them to a combination of stats and other factors. The applicants who win cycles with below-average stats usually do it on the strength of the parts of the file that the averages do not capture.
Frequently asked questions
How many people apply to PA school each year?
34,625 total applicants for the 2024-25 cycle per PAEA, up roughly 14% from 30,353 in 2020-21. The 2026-27 cycle is likely to see 35,000-37,000 total applicants based on trend.
What is the average GPA of accepted PA students?
The PAEA 2024-25 accepted-applicant average cumulative GPA is 3.60 and average science GPA is 3.50. Non-accepted applicant averages are 3.28 cumulative and 3.17 science.
How many PCE hours do accepted PA students have?
The accepted-applicant average for 2024-25 is 2,669 hours of Patient Care Experience and 1,490 hours of Healthcare Experience. The averages mask significant variance - some accepted applicants are well above and some well below.
What is the PA school acceptance rate?
The aggregate matriculation rate (matriculants divided by applicants) is approximately 36%. The per-application acceptance rate is much lower because applicants average 8.45 applications each.
Where does PAEA data come from?
The Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) collects data from CASPA and from member programs and publishes the annual Applicant and Matriculant Report. The 2024-25 report is the most recent comprehensive snapshot.