About the program
The Idaho State 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: "We cultivate caring, collaborative physician assistants with a passion to serve and improve the health and well-being of patients and their communities."
3 campus location connected through synchronous learning. Rural Health Track, Hispanic Health Track. Focus on primary care. Graduate Certificates in Spanish for Health Professions, Lifestyle Medicine, Rural Health and Geriatrics. International Rotations. Scholarships for every student.
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.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 10 Years · up to 2 outstanding at application
Program overview
Idaho State University offers a 24-month MPAS program delivered across three campus locations connected through synchronous learning, with an incoming class of approximately 72 students. The program holds continued ARC-PA accreditation and accepts its next cohort starting August 2027, with a rolling admissions deadline of November 1, 2026. Because applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, submitting early carries real strategic weight.
The mission centers on developing caring, collaborative PAs committed to serving patients and their communities, and the curriculum reflects that through a primary care focus built on organ- and systems-based learning. Two specialty tracks - Rural Health and Hispanic Health - signal a deliberate orientation toward underserved populations, and graduate certificates in Spanish for Health Professions, Lifestyle Medicine, Rural Health, and Geriatrics give students structured ways to deepen that work. International rotations are available for those seeking broader clinical exposure. Notably, the program offers scholarships to every student, which is a concrete financial consideration worth factoring in.
Academically, matriculants average a 3.58 overall GPA and a 3.52 science GPA, with a minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.00. Required prerequisites include Human Anatomy (3 credits), Human Physiology (3 credits), Microbiology (3 credits), and Statistics (3 credits), all completed within the past 10 years. Up to two prerequisites may be outstanding at the time of application. Paid direct patient care is recommended but not required, and healthcare experience follows the same guidance - a meaningful distinction for applicants still building their hours.
The application requires the GRE (the MCAT is not accepted), a CASPer assessment, TOEFL for applicable international applicants, and a minimum of three letters of reference. Interviews are conducted in a Multiple Mini Interview format and are not required to be completed onsite, which reduces logistical burden for out-of-state candidates. Both out-of-state and international applicants are accepted, with separate tuition rates applying, and a seat deposit of $750 is required upon acceptance. The program does not offer distance learning or part-time enrollment options.
An applicant should assess fit primarily by evaluating whether their academic record clears the 3.00 prerequisite threshold, whether their goals align with primary care and rural or underserved community medicine, and whether they can submit a competitive application early enough in the rolling cycle to receive timely consideration.