About the program
The Gannon University-Ruskin 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: "To provide a stimulating and collaborative learning environment led by highly qualified and dedicated faculty and staff. Our students are prepared to become ethical, professional, and high quality health care providers who are socially responsible leaders in their discipline and community."
On Campus Simulation Lab, On Campus Patient Treatment Rooms, Interprofessional Opportunities with OT, PT and SLP, Local Actors serve as mock patients, Community Engagement/Volunteering,
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.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 7 Years
Program overview
Gannon University's Ruskin, Florida campus offers a 24-month PA program granting a master's degree, currently holding ARC-PA Continued accreditation. With an incoming class of approximately 30 students, the program maintains an intimate cohort that aligns with its mission of fostering a collaborative, socially responsible learning environment. The program begins in August 2026 and accepts out-of-state applicants, though international applicants are not eligible.
The minimum GPA threshold across overall, science, and prerequisite coursework sits at 3.00, making the program accessible to a broad range of competitive applicants without an artificially elevated floor. Healthcare experience is required, though paid direct patient care is recommended rather than mandatory - a distinction worth noting for applicants whose experience spans volunteer or unpaid clinical settings. Prerequisite coursework must have been completed within the past seven years and includes general chemistry with lab (8 credits), general biology (8 credits), human anatomy with lab, human physiology with lab, microbiology with lab (each 4 credits), and statistics (3 credits).
The curriculum follows an organ-based and systems-based framework, a structure that integrates material across disciplines as students move through the body rather than teaching subjects in isolation. Practical training infrastructure is notably hands-on: the program operates an on-campus simulation lab and patient treatment rooms, and uses local actors as standardized patients, giving students repeated, low-stakes opportunities to practice clinical reasoning and communication before entering real-world placements. Interprofessional education with occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology students adds meaningful exposure to team-based care, which reflects the program's emphasis on producing practitioners who function effectively across healthcare settings. Community engagement and volunteering are also embedded program features consistent with the mission's focus on social responsibility.
Total tuition is $139,820 with no separate tuition rates for different student categories, and the seat deposit is $500. Applications are reviewed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis with a deadline of December 1, 2025, so early submission carries real strategic weight. The application requires three letters of reference, a required onsite traditional interview, and completion of the CASPer assessment through Acuity Insights. TOEFL is listed for applicable applicants. There is no part-time option and no distance learning component, so candidates must be prepared for full-time, in-person commitment at the Ruskin campus.
Applicants should evaluate fit by honestly assessing whether their healthcare experience - paid or unpaid - genuinely meets the required threshold, and whether the Ruskin location, full-time schedule, and interprofessional, community-oriented culture match both their professional goals and personal circumstances.