About the program
The Baylor College of Medicine 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 BCM Physician Assistant Program educates physician assistants on the principles and practices of medicine to provide quality healthcare to diverse populations and optimize health in a broad range of settings."
Interdisciplinary Learning, Lifestyle Medicine, Simulation/POCUS, Team-Based Learning, Medical Ethics and Tropical MedicineTrack
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. Veteran support programs are available; consult the program directly for details.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 7 Years
Program overview
Baylor College of Medicine offers a 30-month Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, set to begin in June 2027, with an application deadline of August 1, 2026. The program holds continued ARC-PA accreditation, accepts out-of-state applicants, and does not consider international applicants. With an incoming class of approximately 40 students, it operates on a cohort model with no part-time or distance learning options.
The program's mission centers on preparing PAs to deliver quality care to diverse populations across a broad range of settings, and the curriculum reflects that breadth. Instruction blends traditional and case-based methods with organ and systems-based learning, and early clinical exposure is built into the structure alongside team-based and interdisciplinary learning. Distinctive features include training in lifestyle medicine, simulation and point-of-care ultrasound, medical ethics, and a tropical medicine track - the last of which is a relatively uncommon offering that signals an interest in global and underserved patient populations. Interviews are conducted in a traditional format and are not required to be completed onsite.
Academically, the program sets a minimum GPA of 3.20 for both overall and science coursework, though matriculants typically arrive with a 3.7 overall and 3.5 science GPA, so competitive applicants should be well above the floor. Prerequisite coursework must have been completed within the last seven years and includes general chemistry with lab (8 credits), human anatomy with lab (4 credits), human physiology with lab (4 credits), microbiology with lab (4 credits), and statistics (3 credits). Paid direct patient care is recommended but not required, and healthcare experience carries no formal requirement - a meaningful distinction for applicants still building their clinical hours.
Three letters of reference are required. Total tuition runs $102,885 with a single tuition rate for all students and a $1,000 seat deposit. Applications are reviewed on a post-deadline basis rather than on a rolling schedule, meaning all materials should be complete and submitted by August 1, 2026.
Applicants should judge fit by honestly assessing whether their GPA sits closer to the matriculant averages than the minimums, whether the program's interdisciplinary and global medicine curriculum aligns with their professional goals, and whether the Houston-based, full-time, in-person structure works for their circumstances.