About the program
The Meharry Medical College 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 Meharry Medical College Physician Assistant Sciences Program is to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups in medicine (URiM) into the PA profession. Students will be equipped with the ability to demonstrate cultural humility, provide evidence-based and compassionate care to all patients they encounter, and foster a commitment to community service in underserved populations, through equity, justice and lifelong learning."
The MMC PAS Program is focused on providing healthcare(ing) to under-resourced populations.
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.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 5 Years
Program overview
Meharry Medical College in Tennessee offers a 27-month program leading to a Master of Physician Assistant Studies, currently holding Provisional ARC-PA accreditation, with a planned start date of January 2027. The program carries a clearly stated social mission: to increase representation of students from underrepresented groups in medicine within the PA profession, while training clinicians to serve underserved and under-resourced communities with cultural humility, evidence-based care, and a sustained commitment to community service. Applicants who share this orientation toward health equity and who come from backgrounds historically underrepresented in medicine will find the program's mission directly relevant to their own goals.
The curriculum blends case-based, systems-based, and team-based learning with early clinical exposure, reflecting a hybrid instructional approach designed to build both clinical reasoning and collaborative practice skills from an early stage. The program's emphasis on under-resourced populations is woven throughout its structure, not treated as an add-on.
Matriculants have averaged a 3.48 overall GPA and a 3.2 science GPA, making this program accessible to applicants whose academic records are solid but not at the very top of the competitive range. Notably, paid direct patient care hours are not required, and healthcare experience is only recommended rather than mandatory - a meaningful distinction for applicants who have meaningful community engagement or other relevant experience but have not yet accumulated formal clinical hours. Prerequisite coursework must have been completed within the past five years and includes eight credits of general chemistry with lab, six credits of general biology, and four credits each of human anatomy with lab and human physiology with lab.
Total tuition is $110,534 with no separate in-state or out-of-state rate difference. A seat deposit of $1,200 is required upon acceptance. The estimated incoming class size is 25 students, which is small and indicates a selective, cohort-intensive environment. Out-of-state and international applicants are both welcome, and the program is delivered entirely on campus with no distance learning or part-time options available. Three letters of reference are required, and the application deadline is August 1, 2026, with all applications reviewed after that date under a regular admissions cycle.
The interview process is notably multifaceted, incorporating group interviews, multiple mini interviews, and a scenario room format - candidates should prepare for an evaluative process that assesses interpersonal skills, situational judgment, and collaborative capacity, not just individual academic performance.
An applicant should seriously consider Meharry if their personal background, clinical or community experiences, and professional goals are genuinely aligned with serving underrepresented and underserved populations, as fit with the program's equity-centered mission will likely carry significant weight throughout the selection process.