About the program
The Lincoln Memorial University – Harrogate 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: "Our mission is to educate future Physician Assistants to provide quality healthcare with an emphasis on primary care to the medically underserved of Appalachia and beyond. Our dedicated, experienced faculty have been training PAs to meet the health care needs of the community and beyond since 2009."
dedicated and experienced faculty, state-of-the-art technology, simulated training lab, students practice procedural skills such as intravenous catheter insertion, lumbar puncture, and point-of-care ultrasound, cadaver lab, mission trip opportunity, Faculty and Staff open door policy
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. On-campus housing is available. Veteran support programs are available; consult the program directly for details.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: No Requirement
Program overview
Lincoln Memorial University's Harrogate campus offers a 27-month Master of Medical Science degree in physician assistant studies, with the next cohort beginning in May 2027. The program holds ARC-PA continued accreditation, accepts out-of-state and international applicants with some restrictions, and runs exclusively as a full-time, on-campus experience with no distance learning or part-time pathway available.
The program's mission centers on preparing PAs to deliver primary care to medically underserved populations in Appalachia and surrounding regions, a focus that has shaped the program since it began training PAs in 2009. Applicants who are drawn to rural or underserved practice settings and who want a program with an explicit community health orientation will find this mission more than rhetorical. The curriculum follows an organ-based and systems-based learning framework. Practical training is reinforced through a cadaver lab, a simulated training lab with state-of-the-art technology, and hands-on procedural skills practice that includes intravenous catheter insertion, lumbar puncture, and point-of-care ultrasound. A mission trip opportunity is also available, offering additional exposure to underserved care contexts consistent with the program's stated priorities. Faculty maintain an open-door policy, which suggests accessible mentorship throughout the program.
Admissions operate on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis with an application deadline of December 1, 2026, so early submission is advantageous. Typical matriculants carry a 3.6 overall GPA and a 3.5 science GPA, though the minimum threshold sits at 2.80 across overall, science, and prerequisite categories. The patient care bar is relatively accessible at 150 hours, but paid direct patient care is required, as is documented healthcare experience. Required prerequisites include general chemistry with lab, general biology with lab, human anatomy with lab, microbiology with lab, human physiology, and statistics, with no time limit imposed on when those courses were completed. Three letters of reference are required. Interviews are conducted in both traditional and panel formats, and attendance on-site is not required for the interview.
The estimated incoming class size is 96 students, one of the larger cohorts in the region, which may affect the degree of individualized attention available outside of the noted faculty accessibility. Total tuition is $104,832 with no separate rate structure for in-state versus out-of-state students, and a $500 seat deposit is required upon acceptance.
Applicants should assess whether their professional goals align with primary care and underserved populations, particularly in Appalachian contexts, and whether their academic and patient care profile is competitive relative to a typical matriculant holding a 3.6 overall GPA despite the lower minimum requirements.