About the program
The Louisiana State University – New Orleans 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 LSU Health-New Orleans Master of Physician Assistant Studies Department is to recruit and educate individuals of the highest quality to provide evidence-based, patient-centered healthcare to the people of Louisiana."
LSUHSC- New Orleans offers an on-site cadaver lab and immersive IPE experience.
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.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 10 Years
Program overview
The LSU Health New Orleans Master of Physician Assistant Studies is a 29-month, ARC-PA accredited program granting an MPAS degree, with the next cohort beginning January 2027. Its stated mission centers on recruiting and educating high-quality clinicians to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered care to the people of Louisiana, giving the program a clear regional service orientation that applicants should take seriously when assessing personal fit.
The curriculum blends traditional didactic instruction with case-based and organ/systems-based learning, and incorporates collaborative team-based approaches throughout. Two notable features distinguish the training environment: an on-site cadaver lab for hands-on anatomical study and an immersive interprofessional education experience, both of which support practical clinical preparation before students enter rotations.
With a matriculant overall GPA of 3.76 and science GPA of 3.70, the competitive floor sits meaningfully above the stated minimums of 3.00 in both categories. Applicants whose numbers fall closer to the minimums should understand they are competing against a class that has averaged well above those thresholds. The patient-care requirement is notably accessible at just 80 hours, though paid direct patient care is recommended. Healthcare experience beyond that minimum is required, so volunteer or shadowing hours alone are unlikely to be sufficient.
The program requires both the GRE and the PA-CAT; the MCAT and PANCE-style PACAT are explicitly not accepted. Three letters of reference are required, and all science prerequisites must have been completed within the past ten years. Required coursework includes eight credits of general chemistry with lab, four credits each of human anatomy, human physiology, and microbiology all with labs, and three credits of statistics.
The incoming class is small at approximately 35 students, which means interview selection is competitive. Interviews are conducted in person and use a combination of group interview and multiple mini interview formats, so candidates should prepare for both collaborative discussion and rapid, structured individual responses. The application deadline is August 1, 2026, and all applications are reviewed after that date under a regular, non-rolling process. Out-of-state applicants are accepted with certain exceptions noted on the program's website, while international applicants are not eligible and no part-time or distance learning options exist. The seat deposit is $500, and separate tuition rates apply for in-state and out-of-state students.
Applicants should evaluate whether their GPA and healthcare background genuinely reflect the academic caliber of recent matriculants, and whether a commitment to practicing in Louisiana aligns with their long-term goals.