About the program
The Concordia University-Ann Arbor 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 PA program at Ann Arbor is to educate Physician Assistant students in primary medicine with a focus on rural and underserved patient populations and communities."
Focus in rural and underserved communities supported by a federal grant. On campus Simulation Center. State of the Art anatomy lab. IPE activity. Christian university that accepts students from all faith backgrounds. Healthcare and Humanities lab.
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: 8 Years · up to 1 outstanding at application
Program overview
Concordia University-Ann Arbor offers a 27-month Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies with ARC-PA Continued accreditation, beginning in August 2027. The program is grounded in a clear mission: preparing PAs to practice primary medicine with a specific focus on rural and underserved patient populations, a commitment reinforced by federal grant funding. This is not a generalist program in name only - the rural and underserved orientation shapes both its curriculum design and its clinical training philosophy, making it a strong fit for applicants who have a genuine interest in working in communities with limited healthcare access.
The curriculum blends case-based, problem-based, and organ-based systems learning, which means students should expect to engage actively with clinical reasoning from early in the program rather than relying on passive lecture-heavy instruction. The campus includes a simulation center, a state-of-the-art anatomy lab, and a Healthcare and Humanities lab, and the program incorporates interprofessional education activities. Concordia is a Christian university but accepts students from all faith backgrounds.
The incoming class is capped at 40 students. Matriculants have averaged a 3.5 overall GPA and 3.6 science GPA, though the minimum threshold sits at 3.0 across overall, science, and prerequisite GPAs. Prerequisite coursework must be completed within the past eight years, and applicants may have no more than one outstanding prerequisite at the time of application. Required prerequisites include Human Anatomy with lab, Human Physiology with lab, Microbiology with lab, and Statistics, each at a minimum of three credits.
The program requires at least 1,000 hours of direct patient care, and those hours must be paid - volunteer or shadowing hours will not satisfy this requirement. Healthcare experience beyond direct patient care is also required. Applicants should plan for a competitive process: admission is rolling and reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, with a deadline of January 15, 2027, so submitting early carries real strategic weight.
Three letters of reference are required. The interview process involves both a panel interview and a scenario room, conducted entirely on-site - there is no remote interview option. International applicants are not accepted, though out-of-state domestic applicants are welcome. The program does not offer part-time enrollment or distance learning components. Total tuition is $105,000 with a $1,000 seat deposit required upon acceptance.
Applicants weighing this program should honestly assess whether their professional goals align with primary care in rural or underserved settings, since that mission is central to how the program is built and funded, not simply a stated value.