About the program
The Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences 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: "To develop extraordinary PAs through transformational learning, providing optimal health care within patient-centered care teams, distinguished by the exceptional leadership and professionalism common to Mayo Clinic values."
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: 7 Years
Program overview
This ARC-PA accredited program at Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences in Minnesota awards a Master of Health Science degree and runs for 24 months, with the next cohort beginning July 2027. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis after the August 1, 2026 deadline closes, and the program admits a small class of 24 students, which reflects the intensive, high-touch training environment Mayo Clinic is known for structuring around its institutional values.
The mission centers on developing PAs who can function as leaders within patient-centered care teams, and the curriculum is built to support that goal through case-based, problem-based, systems-based, and collaborative team learning methods, with early clinical exposure built in from the start. This pedagogical approach demands students who can handle ambiguity and think through clinical problems actively rather than passively absorbing content, so applicants who have thrived in similar learning environments will find the format a natural fit.
The academic bar is consistent and high across all GPA measures - overall, science, and prerequisite GPAs each carry a 3.50 minimum. Prerequisite coursework must have been completed within the last seven years and includes a substantial science foundation: 15 credits of general chemistry with lab, 6 credits of general biology with lab, 4 credits each of human anatomy and physiology both with labs, 3 credits of microbiology with lab, and 3 credits of statistics. The prerequisite time limit is worth flagging early for applicants whose science coursework is aging.
On the patient care side, the program requires a minimum of 500 direct patient care hours, and those hours must be paid - volunteer or unpaid experience will not satisfy this requirement. Healthcare experience beyond that is also required. This is a meaningful filter that distinguishes candidates with genuine clinical employment from those with primarily observational or extracurricular exposure.
Total tuition runs $130,068 with no separate in-state or out-of-state rate distinction, and a seat deposit of $200 is required upon acceptance. The program accepts out-of-state and, with certain exceptions, international applicants, though prospective international candidates should consult the program's website directly for specifics. There is no part-time or distance learning option available.
The interview process is notably multifaceted, including traditional, panel, group, and multiple mini interview formats, all conducted onsite. Applicants should come prepared to demonstrate interpersonal skills and clinical reasoning across several different evaluative contexts in a single visit. Three reference letters are required as part of the application.
An applicant should honestly assess whether their paid direct patient care history, academic record across all three GPA thresholds, and comfort with active, team-based learning genuinely align with what this program demands before investing in an application.