About the program
The Loma Linda 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: "Loma Linda University Department of Physician Assistant (PA) Sciences educates primary care physician assistants who will provide healthcare in collaboration with physicians as active members of a professional healthcare team. We are committed to excellence and compassion for the whole person and quality healthcare for underserved communities locally and globally, in accordance with the mission of Loma Linda University and the School of Allied Health Professions."
Seventh-Day Adventist institution, on-campus simulation lab, association with a medical hospital and medical center, multiple options for international rotations and service work with emphasis on serving the underserved, mission trip to Mexico during the summer quarter of didactic year, prosected cadaver lab, multiple inter-professional experiences.
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. Veteran support programs are available; consult the program directly for details.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 10 Years · up to 2 outstanding at application
Program overview
Loma Linda University offers a 24-month Master of Physician Assistant program based in California, accredited by ARC-PA with Continued status, accepting its next cohort in September 2027. The program is grounded in a Seventh-day Adventist institutional mission and explicitly trains primary care PAs to serve underserved communities locally and globally - a commitment that is woven throughout the curriculum rather than treated as an afterthought. Applicants who are drawn to faith-based healthcare environments and motivated by service work in under-resourced settings will find the program's culture a genuine match.
Matriculants arrive with strong academic preparation, averaging a 3.76 overall GPA and 3.75 science GPA, though the program sets its minimum at 3.00 for both. The 2,000-hour paid direct patient care requirement is firm, which means applicants still accumulating hours or working in volunteer-only roles will need to adjust their plans before applying. Healthcare experience beyond patient care is also required. Prerequisite coursework in general chemistry with lab, human anatomy with lab, human physiology with lab, and microbiology with lab must all fall within the past ten years, and no more than two prerequisites may be outstanding at the time of application.
The curriculum follows an organ-based and systems-based learning model across the 24-month program. Facilities include an on-campus simulation lab and a prosected cadaver lab, and the program maintains affiliation with a medical hospital and medical center for clinical training. Multiple interprofessional experiences are built into the training, as is a mission trip to Mexico during the summer quarter of the didactic year. International rotation options extend that global exposure further for students who pursue them.
The incoming class is capped at approximately 50 students. Admission is rolling and reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, making the October 1, 2026 deadline a ceiling rather than a target - early submission is clearly advantageous. Three letters of reference are required. Interviews are conducted onsite and include both a group interview and a Multiple Mini Interview format. Out-of-state applicants are accepted, as are international applicants with certain conditions detailed on the program's website. No part-time or distance learning options exist.
Total tuition runs $112,660, with a $500 seat deposit required upon acceptance.
Applicants should weigh whether a Seventh-day Adventist institutional culture, a genuine commitment to underserved and global health work, and a competitive paid-hours requirement align with both their professional goals and their current application readiness before prioritizing this program.