About the program
The Ithaca 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: "The mission of the Ithaca College Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program is to educate, engage, and empower physician assistant learners to achieve excellence through medical theory, clinical practice, and exemplary professional performance in communities*. Communities = historically marginalized, underserved, health professional shortage areas, and rural."
The Ithaca College Physician Assistant Program offers several unique components: a new dedicated state-of-the-art facility located on the downtown Ithaca Commons that includes a clinical skills lab and simulation center with advanced technology; the IC Human Anatomy Lab; a focus on Team-Based Learning; a Leadership and Professional Series; and a Transition to Clinical Practice course.
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. On-campus housing is available. Veteran support programs are available; consult the program directly for details.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 10 Years · up to 1 outstanding at application
Program overview
Ithaca College offers a 27-month Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies in New York, currently holding Provisional ARC-PA accreditation status. The program accepts out-of-state applicants but does not accept international students, has no part-time or distance learning options, and is scheduled to begin its first cohort in August 2027. Applications are reviewed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis with a deadline of November 1, 2026, making early submission a practical priority.
The program's mission centers on preparing PAs to serve historically marginalized populations, underserved communities, health professional shortage areas, and rural settings. Applicants drawn to community-focused or public health-oriented practice will find this mission especially relevant when assessing fit. Curriculum delivery combines team-based learning, hybrid case-based methods, and organ-systems organization, with additional structured programming through a Leadership and Professional Series and a Transition to Clinical Practice course. The program is housed in a dedicated downtown Ithaca facility featuring a clinical skills lab, simulation center with advanced technology, and a human anatomy lab - resources that are notable for a newer program.
The incoming class is capped at 35 students, and matriculants have averaged a 3.42 overall GPA and a 3.50 science GPA, though the program sets a minimum overall GPA of 3.00 and a minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.20. Prerequisites include human anatomy with lab (4 credits), human physiology with lab (4 credits), microbiology with lab (4 credits), and statistics (3 credits), all completed within the past 10 years. Applicants may enter with no more than one outstanding prerequisite. Patient care experience is required and must be paid direct patient care, with a minimum of 500 hours; general healthcare experience is also required. The bar here is relatively accessible in terms of hours compared to many programs, though the paid-only requirement narrows what counts.
Total tuition is $124,426 with no separate in-state or out-of-state rate differential, and a seat deposit of $500 is required upon acceptance. Three letters of reference are required. Interviews are traditional in format and are not required to be conducted onsite.
Applicants should weigh whether the program's Provisional accreditation status, community-service mission, and relatively modest patient care hour minimum align with where they are in their preparation and what they want from their PA career.