About the program
The Chapman University 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 Chapman University MMS PA Studies Program's mission is to provide an exceptional medical education that inspires compassionate and collaborative PAs who enhance access to high-quality patient care."
Experienced and practicing PA faculty, simulation labs, cadaver lab, a variety of robust rotations from which to choose, elective rotation available, student society, interprofessional education with other healthcare programs on-site, collaborative environment, community outreach, 24-month accelerated program, full-tuition scholarships available
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 considered. Distance learning is not offered. Part-time enrollment is not available.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: No Requirement · up to 3 outstanding at application
Program overview
Chapman University's PA program, located in California, awards a Master of Medical Science degree and runs 24 months, with the next cohort beginning January 2027. It holds continued ARC-PA accreditation and accepts out-of-state applicants, though international applicants are not eligible. The program does not offer part-time enrollment or distance learning components, making it a full-time, on-campus commitment.
The program's mission centers on producing compassionate, collaborative PAs who expand access to high-quality care, and this ethos is reflected in a curriculum that integrates case-based, problem-based, organ-systems, and team-based learning approaches. Students benefit from simulation labs, a cadaver lab, and interprofessional education alongside other healthcare students on the same campus - an increasingly valued preparation for real clinical environments. A variety of clinical rotations are available, including at least one elective rotation, which gives students some ability to shape their training toward specific interests. Faculty are described as experienced, practicing PAs, and a student society and community outreach activities round out the professional development experience. Full-tuition scholarships are noted as available, which is a meaningful consideration given total tuition of $140,000 and a seat deposit of $1,000.
Admission is rolling and reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, with an application deadline of August 1, 2026. The incoming class is capped at 50 students. Matriculants have averaged a 3.7 overall GPA and a 3.7 science GPA, though the program's hard minimums sit at 3.2 in both categories - leaving meaningful room between the floor and the typical accepted profile. Applicants must have completed at least 1,000 paid direct patient care hours, which is a notable distinction: volunteer or unpaid hours do not satisfy this requirement. Healthcare experience beyond that is also required. The GRE is mandatory; the MCAT is not accepted as a substitute.
Prerequisite coursework includes eight credits each of general chemistry and general biology (both with labs), four credits each of human anatomy, human physiology, and microbiology (all with labs), and three credits of statistics. There is no time limit on how old prerequisites can be, and applicants may have up to three outstanding prerequisites at the time of application. Three letters of reference are required, and interviews are conducted in a traditional format but do not require on-site attendance.
Applicants should honestly assess whether their paid patient care hours meet the threshold and whether their GPA is competitive relative to the 3.7 matriculant average, not just the 3.2 minimum, before prioritizing an early application given the rolling review process.