About the program
The Drexel 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 mission of the Drexel University Physician Assistant (PA) Program is to educate competent PAs who will deliver equitable, patient-centered primary healthcare with a focus on under-resourced communities; to promote interprofessional collaboration and advocacy of the PA profession; and to foster a culture of dignity and respect for everyone."
Drexel University offers a brand new Health Sciences Building, completed in Fall 2022, housing state of the art anatomy labs, simulation labs, classrooms, and study spaces. Interdisciplinary volunteer and learning opportunities abound. Clinical sites are well established throughout the country. As the first PA program in Pennsylvania, established in 1971, Drexel University is known for a tradition of excellence in educating primary care PAs.
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: yes, with exceptions. please visit the program's website. DACA status applicants are considered. Distance learning is not offered. Part-time enrollment is not available. On-campus housing is available. Veteran support programs are available; consult the program directly for details.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 10 Years · up to 2 outstanding at application
Program overview
Drexel University's PA program in Pennsylvania awards a Master of Health Science degree and runs 27 months, with the next cohort beginning August 2027. It holds continued ARC-PA accreditation and accepts both out-of-state and international applicants, with some exceptions for the latter that prospective students should confirm directly with the program. The incoming class is large at 90 seats, which means the program has meaningful infrastructure and clinical placement capacity to support a substantial number of students each year.
The mission centers explicitly on training primary care PAs to serve under-resourced communities, so applicants who are drawn to health equity work and community-focused practice will find the program's values align well with that orientation. Interprofessional collaboration and advocacy for the PA profession are also embedded in the mission, reflecting a broader commitment beyond clinical competence alone. The curriculum is organized around organ-based and systems-based learning with a problem-based learning approach, which places students in the habit of working through clinical reasoning rather than passively receiving information. The program operates out of a Health Sciences Building completed in Fall 2022, housing anatomy and simulation labs alongside dedicated study spaces. Clinical rotations are placed at established sites across the country.
The competitive floor here is straightforward: a minimum 3.00 in both overall and science GPA, with matriculants typically arriving at 3.74 overall and 3.66 science. Applicants sitting near the minimum should be realistic that the enrolled class profile is meaningfully higher. Patient care hours are set at 500, a relatively accessible bar compared to many programs, though paid direct patient care is recommended. Healthcare experience beyond direct patient care is also required. Prerequisites must be completed within the past 10 years, and applicants may enter with up to two outstanding prerequisites. Required coursework includes general chemistry with lab, eight credits of general biology with lab, human anatomy with lab, human physiology, and microbiology.
Total tuition comes to $114,000 with a $500 seat deposit. The application deadline is September 1, 2026, and admission is rolling on a first-come, first-served basis, making early submission a practical priority rather than a suggestion. Two letters of reference are required at minimum. Interviews are conducted in a traditional format and are not required to be onsite.
An applicant who is serious about primary care and health equity work, can submit a strong and complete application early in the cycle, and meets or meaningfully exceeds the 3.00 GPA floor should give Drexel a close look.