About the program
The Austin College PA program is described in PAEA's published program data; full curriculum details, faculty, and admissions cycle specifics are maintained on the program's own website.
From the program's mission statement: "The mission of the Austin College Physician Assistant (PA) program is to engage committed, diverse learners in a student-centered, transformational curriculum that fosters personal growth, builds community, and produces PAs capable of providing high-quality, patient-centered healthcare that reflects the principles of medical humanities and service to others."
Universal curriculum design; low student to faculty ratio; 13,000 square feet of dedicated space with simulated patient exam rooms and large clinical skills space
Matriculant data
Actual stats for students who enrolled in the most recently reported cohort, sourced from PAEA's published program data.
Admission policies
Out-of-state applicants are accepted. International applicants: no. DACA status applicants are not considered. Distance learning is not offered. Part-time enrollment is not available.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: No Requirement
Program overview
Austin College offers a 24-month Master of Medical Science degree through a provisionally ARC-PA accredited physician assistant program based in Texas. The program is scheduled to welcome its inaugural cohort in June 2027, making it a newer option for applicants who are comfortable entering a program still building its track record. With a small incoming class of 34 students and a low student-to-faculty ratio, the program is built around close mentorship and individualized attention. The 13,000 square feet of dedicated program space includes simulated patient exam rooms and a large clinical skills area, signaling meaningful investment in hands-on training before students enter clinical rotations.
The curriculum blends traditional and case-based learning within an organ-based, systems-based framework, and incorporates universal curriculum design - an approach that builds in flexibility to accommodate different learning styles. The mission emphasizes medical humanities alongside clinical competency, and service to others appears as a genuine programmatic priority rather than a footnote. Applicants drawn to a program that integrates community-building and personal growth into its professional training, not just clinical skill development, will find this alignment meaningful.
The minimum GPA requirement for both overall and science coursework is 3.0, though admitted students have typically carried a 3.7 overall and 3.6 science GPA, so competitive applicants should aim well above the floor. Direct patient care experience is recommended but not required, and healthcare experience broadly is also not required - this lowers the bar for applicants earlier in their pre-PA journey, though a stronger academic record will likely compensate for thinner clinical hours. International applicants are not accepted, but out-of-state applicants are welcome. There is no prerequisite time limit, which benefits career-changers with older coursework. Required prerequisites include Human Anatomy with lab, Human Physiology with lab, Microbiology with lab, and Statistics.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis with a deadline of December 1, 2026. The program requires a minimum of three letters of reference and a traditional, required on-site interview. There is no part-time or distance learning option. Total tuition sits at $112,000 with a $500 seat deposit, and there are no separate tuition rates for in-state versus out-of-state students.
Applicants should assess whether they are comfortable with a provisionally accredited program just launching its first cohort, and whether the mission's emphasis on humanities and service genuinely reflects their own motivations for entering the profession.