About the program
The Elon 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 Elon University Department of Physician Assistant Studies embraces the overall mission of the University and seeks to fulfill the Departmental vision of “Learning. Caring. Serving. Leading.”"
Partnership with local free clinic; on-campus interprofessional simulation center; first-consent anatomical gift program; international rotation, faculty-mentored research project
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. DACA status applicants are considered. Distance learning is not offered. Part-time enrollment is not available.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 10 Years · up to 1 outstanding at application
Program overview
Elon University offers a 24-month Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies in North Carolina, holding ARC-PA Continued accreditation, with the next cohort beginning January 2027. The program's guiding philosophy - "Learning. Caring. Serving. Leading." - is woven into a curriculum that draws on case-based, problem-based, organ/systems-based, and team-based learning, with early clinical exposure built in from the start. That pedagogical mix suits applicants who learn well through active engagement rather than passive lecture formats.
Matriculants arrive with a mean overall GPA of 3.63 and a science GPA of 3.54, placing this program in a competitive but not elite tier. Healthcare experience is required, though paid direct patient care is recommended rather than mandatory - a meaningful distinction for applicants whose hands-on work has been in volunteer or unpaid roles. With an incoming class of 76 students, this is a mid-to-large cohort, which comes with broader peer networks but also reflects a more structured, higher-volume admissions process.
Several features distinguish the program operationally. A partnership with a local free clinic gives students exposure to underserved patient populations in a real-world setting. An on-campus interprofessional simulation center supports skill development alongside other health professions students. A first-consent anatomical gift program provides cadaveric education with an emphasis on the ethical dimensions of donation. Students also have access to international rotation opportunities and complete a faculty-mentored research project, giving the degree some scholarly depth beyond clinical training alone.
Prerequisite requirements include eight credits of general chemistry with lab, four credits of human anatomy with lab, three credits of human physiology, and three credits of microbiology. All prerequisites must have been completed within the past ten years, and applicants may enter with no more than one outstanding prerequisite at the time of application. Three letters of reference are required. Interviews are traditional in format and are not required to be conducted on-site, which reduces logistical burden for out-of-state applicants - both out-of-state and international candidates are accepted.
Total tuition runs $126,928 with a $1,000 seat deposit, and there are no separate in-state or out-of-state tuition rates. The application deadline is August 1, 2026, with all applications reviewed after that date under a regular admissions cycle rather than rolling review, so submitting early confers no advantage beyond meeting the deadline. The program does not offer part-time enrollment or distance learning components.
An applicant should assess fit here primarily by weighing their healthcare experience type against the program's recommendation for paid direct patient care, and by honestly evaluating whether their GPA and science coursework align with the 3.54–3.63 matriculant range before investing in the application.