About the program
The MCPHS University (Boston) 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 MCPHS PA Boston is to provide graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to participate in and lead interprofessional healthcare teams while providing quality and compassionate medical care to diverse patients across the lifespan."
In this full-time, three-year program at our Boston campus, you will study medical and behavioral science in the classroom and our state-of-the-art simulation laboratory. Through collaborative exercises and clinical rotations, you will develop the knowledge and skills to deliver high-quality medical care in a variety of settings. You also will have the opportunity to explore multiple areas of special interest such as emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry,
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. 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
MCPHS University's Boston campus offers a 30-month, full-time Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree with ARC-PA continued accreditation, admitting a new cohort each September. With an estimated incoming class size of 100 students, it is a large program that draws applicants from across the country and accepts international candidates as well, though no part-time or distance learning options exist.
The program is built around organ- and systems-based learning, integrating medical and behavioral science coursework with hands-on work in a simulation laboratory. Clinical rotations expose students to a broad range of practice environments, and the curriculum deliberately includes exposure to emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and psychiatry, among other areas of interest. The mission explicitly emphasizes interprofessional teamwork and leadership, which means applicants who have sought out collaborative healthcare settings will find the program's philosophy familiar and consistent with their background.
The competitive floor is relatively accessible - a 3.0 minimum across overall, science, and prerequisite GPAs - but matriculants typically arrive with a 3.6 in both categories, so the working target is meaningfully higher than the posted minimum. Patient care requirements are modest at 250 hours, though paid direct patient care experience is required, not merely preferred, and healthcare experience broadly is mandatory. Prerequisites include general chemistry and biology with labs, human anatomy, human physiology, microbiology with a lab, and statistics, all completed within the past ten years with no more than two outstanding at the time of application.
Total tuition runs approximately $190,000 with no differentiation for in-state or out-of-state students, and a $750 seat deposit is required upon acceptance. Applications are reviewed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis with a deadline of September 1, 2026 for the September 2027 start, making early submission strategically important. Three letters of reference are required. Finalists complete an onsite interview that combines traditional and multiple mini interview formats.
An applicant should honestly assess whether their paid patient care experience, GPA trajectory, and interest in an interprofessional, urban academic environment align with what this large Boston program is structured to produce.