About the program
The Marshall 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: "The Marshall University Physician Assistant Program is dedicated to providing high-quality medical education to develop a competent physician assistant workforce to meet needs in primary and specialty care. Graduates of our program will contribute to the quality of life in their communities and regions through excellent health care. Building upon this foundation, we strive to fulfill the need for care in rural underserved areas and to engage our physician assistants in lifelong learning in an academic community."
Human Anatomy Cadaver Dissection Lab; Rural Health Grant; Dedicated Orthopedic Rotation; Dedicated Cardiology Rotation; Dedicated Rural Health Rotation; Affiliated with Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine; Early Clinical Experience at a VA Medical Center
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. Veteran support programs are available; consult the program directly for details.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 10 Years
Program overview
Marshall University's PA program in West Virginia awards a Master of Medical Science degree across a 28-month curriculum, with the next cohort beginning January 2027. The program holds continued ARC-PA accreditation and accepts a small class of approximately 30 students, giving it an intimate training environment. Its mission is straightforward and regionally grounded: producing competent PAs for both primary and specialty care with a particular emphasis on rural and underserved communities in West Virginia and surrounding areas. Applicants drawn to rural medicine or who want structured exposure to underserved settings will find that emphasis embedded throughout the program rather than treated as an afterthought.
The academic model blends case-based, problem-based, systems-based, and team-based learning alongside traditional didactic instruction, with early clinical exposure built in from the start. A human anatomy cadaver dissection lab is a notable feature given that some programs rely on models or virtual tools. The program's affiliation with Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine provides access to medical school-level resources, and early clinical experience at a VA Medical Center gives students patient contact in a complex, interprofessional environment before dedicated rotations begin. Required clinical rotations include dedicated placements in orthopedics, cardiology, and rural health - specialized tracks that are not universal across PA programs and that signal what the faculty actually values in clinical training. A rural health grant further supports the program's mission beyond marketing language.
Admissions requirements are moderately competitive. Matriculants average a 3.63 overall GPA and 3.54 science GPA, though the stated minimums sit at 3.00 across overall, science, and prerequisite categories. Paid direct patient care experience is recommended but not required, which lowers the bar for applicants still building clinical hours. Prerequisite science coursework must have been completed within the past ten years and includes general chemistry with lab (8 credits), human anatomy with lab (4 credits), microbiology with lab (3 credits), human physiology (3 credits), and statistics (3 credits). Applicants must submit scores from either the GRE or MCAT along with a CASPer assessment and a minimum of three reference letters. Admission is rolling on a first-come, first-served basis with an application deadline of October 1, 2026, so submitting early carries meaningful strategic weight. The interview is traditional in format and does not require an onsite visit. The program accepts out-of-state and international applicants, though international candidates should review specific eligibility conditions on the program's website. Tuition rates are differentiated by residency status, and a seat deposit of $1,000 is required upon acceptance. There is no part-time track and no distance learning component.
Applicants should honestly assess whether the rural health mission and West Virginia clinical environment align with their intended practice setting, since that emphasis shapes both curriculum structure and rotation placement.