About the program
The Lincoln Memorial University- Chattanooga 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 Lincoln Memorial University’s values of service, integrity, and excellence, the LMU Chattanooga PA Program educates compassionate and competent physician assistants who embody autonomy, attunement, advocacy, and accountability. Committed to advocacy, our graduates bridge the gap to improve health and reduce disparities in underserved communities across Appalachia and beyond."
Our Physician Assistant (PA) program is built for the next generation of medical professionals, those who thrive in dynamic, hands-on environments and learn best through active engagement with real-world challenges-rooted in evidence-based educational practices, our curriculum moves beyond traditional lecture-heavy models to offer an innovative, learner-centered approach designed to prepare students for the complexity of modern healthcare.
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 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: No Requirement · up to 2 outstanding at application
Program overview
Lincoln Memorial University's Chattanooga PA Program awards a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies over 24 months, with the next cohort beginning January 2027. The program holds ARC-PA Continued accreditation and accepts applications on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis through December 1, 2026, making early submission a practical priority for serious applicants.
The program's mission centers on preparing graduates to serve underserved communities in Appalachia and beyond, with explicit commitments to reducing health disparities and advancing advocacy. Applicants drawn to community health, rural medicine, or working in populations with limited healthcare access will find this mission orientation meaningful rather than incidental to the training.
The curriculum moves away from lecture-heavy instruction in favor of case-based learning, problem-based learning, organ- and systems-based learning, and early clinical exposure. This approach is designed to place students in active, analytical roles from the outset rather than passive recipients of didactic content. The incoming class size of 100 is relatively large, which is worth factoring in when considering the learning environment.
Entry requirements set a floor of 3.00 for overall, science, and prerequisite GPAs. The direct patient care threshold of 250 hours is among the lower bars in the field, making this program accessible to applicants who are earlier in building their clinical experience, though paid experience is recommended. Healthcare experience beyond direct patient care is required. Prerequisites include general chemistry with lab, general biology with lab, human anatomy with lab, human physiology with lab, microbiology with lab, and statistics, with no time limit on when those courses were completed and a maximum of two outstanding prerequisites permitted at the time of application.
Total tuition is $107,976 with a $500 seat deposit. The program does not offer separate tuition rates for in-state students, though out-of-state and international applicants are accepted, with the latter subject to specific conditions detailed on the program's website. The program is fully on-site with no distance learning or part-time option. Admission requires a minimum of two reference letters and a traditional, required on-site interview.
An applicant should weigh this program most seriously if they hold a competitive GPA near or above the 3.00 minimum, have at least 250 documented patient care hours, and are genuinely motivated by the program's focus on serving underserved and Appalachian communities, since mission alignment will likely be a visible factor throughout the admissions and interview process.