About the program
The Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport 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 PA Program is to provide a primary care curriculum to prepare competent, professionally engaged Physician Assistants to provide health care for Louisiana citizens."
First in Louisiana, Low tuition, High PANCE pass rate
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 9 outstanding at application
Program overview
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport offers a 27-month MPAS program with continued ARC-PA accreditation, admitting a class of approximately 40 students beginning in May 2027. The program's mission centers on primary care, explicitly aimed at preparing physician assistants to serve Louisiana citizens, which signals a preference for applicants who are genuinely interested in primary care practice and who can demonstrate a commitment to the communities and health needs of the region.
Admitted students arrive with a 3.7 average for both overall and science GPA, though the program sets a 3.0 floor for both, meaning competitive applicants should realistically aim closer to the matriculant average to be considered seriously. The GRE is required, and the program will not accept MCAT scores as a substitute. Three letters of reference are the minimum requirement, and all applications are reviewed together after the August 1, 2026 deadline rather than on a rolling basis, so submitting early does not confer an advantage beyond ensuring completeness.
Healthcare experience is required, though paid direct patient care specifically is not. This distinction matters: applicants can fulfill the experience requirement through volunteer or other healthcare roles, but they must have documented, hands-on engagement with patients in some capacity. The prerequisite list is fairly standard, covering general chemistry with lab, general biology, human anatomy with lab, human physiology, microbiology with lab, and statistics, with no time limit on when those courses were completed. Up to nine outstanding prerequisites are permitted at the time of application, which offers some flexibility for applicants still finishing coursework.
Tuition is one of the program's more notable practical features. LSUHSC Shreveport has separate in-state and out-of-state rates, and low tuition is explicitly cited as a program distinction - a meaningful consideration given the financial weight of graduate health education. Out-of-state and international applicants are accepted with exceptions, and those candidates should review the program's website carefully to understand eligibility before investing time in an application. There is no distance learning or part-time pathway; this is a full-time, on-site commitment.
The interview process is notably layered, incorporating a traditional interview, a group interview, and a multiple mini interview format, all requiring on-site attendance. Applicants should prepare for a range of interaction styles and be ready to demonstrate both clinical reasoning and interpersonal competency across different formats. The $500 seat deposit is required upon acceptance.
An applicant should consider this program a strong fit if they are drawn to primary care, comfortable in a state-focused mission environment, seeking an affordable graduate program, and prepared to navigate a competitive but accessible admissions bar with solid science coursework and meaningful healthcare exposure.