About the program
The Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University(Our Lady of the Lake College) 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: "Guided by the tradition of compassionate health care exemplified by the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady, the Physician Assistant Program will develop graduates who will provide evidence based, patient centered medical care in diverse settings, and who are committed to serving all God’s people."
SETH, Anatomage Table, Simulation with Standardized Patients, PASO, High Fidelity Task Trainers and Mannikins, Academic and Non-Academic Support Systems
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 · up to 9 outstanding at application
Program overview
The Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University PA Program, housed within Our Lady of the Lake College in Louisiana, is an ARC-PA accredited, 28-month program awarding a Master of Medical Science degree to students who begin in January 2027. Rooted in a Franciscan tradition of compassionate service, the program's mission explicitly emphasizes evidence-based, patient-centered care delivered across diverse settings and a commitment to serving all people - language that signals a genuine orientation toward underserved and varied patient populations rather than a narrowly defined clinical niche.
The academic bar is moderate and accessible for well-prepared applicants. Minimum GPA requirements sit at 3.00 across overall, science, and prerequisite coursework, though matriculants typically arrive with a 3.62 overall and a 3.50 science GPA, so competitive candidates should aim meaningfully above the floor. Prerequisites carry a seven-year time limit, and the program allows up to nine outstanding prerequisites at the time of application, which gives flexibility to applicants still completing coursework. Required prerequisites include human anatomy with lab at four credits, human physiology at three credits, microbiology at three credits, and statistics at three credits. Notably, paid direct patient care is not required, and healthcare experience is only recommended rather than mandatory - a relatively lenient standard that may suit applicants transitioning from less traditional healthcare backgrounds, though relevant experience will still strengthen a competitive application.
The curriculum blends case-based, problem-based, organ-systems, and collaborative team-based learning approaches, reflecting a hybrid pedagogical model designed to prepare students for real clinical reasoning rather than rote memorization. Practical training infrastructure includes an Anatomage virtual dissection table, high-fidelity mannequins and task trainers, simulation with standardized patients, and access to SETH and PASO resources, alongside academic and non-academic support systems - a meaningful array of tools for a class of approximately 30 students.
Total tuition runs $95,542 with no differential rates for out-of-state students, who are welcomed. International applicants are not accepted, and the program has no part-time or distance learning options. The application deadline is September 1, 2026, with all applications reviewed together after that date under a regular admissions cycle. The selection process requires a CASPer standardized situational judgment test, three letters of recommendation, and an on-site multiple mini interview.
An applicant should judge fit by honestly weighing whether the program's faith-based, service-oriented mission aligns with their own professional values, and whether the January start, Louisiana location, and fully in-person format work practically within their circumstances.