About the program
The Methodist 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: "To develop competent clinicians within a supportive, engaging, culturally diverse environment which fosters academic and social growth. Our graduates will become integrated into communities striving for excellence in healthcare through compassion, professionalism, and lifelong learning."
On campus cadaver lab, small class size, located in a health professions shortage area, strong focus on recruiting diverse cohorts.
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. On-campus housing is available. Veteran support programs are available; consult the program directly for details.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: No Requirement · up to 3 outstanding at application
Program overview
Methodist University's PA program in North Carolina awards a Master of Medical Science degree and runs 27 months, beginning in August 2027. It holds Continued accreditation from ARC-PA, accepts both out-of-state and international applicants (with some exceptions for the latter), and draws an incoming class of approximately 40 students - a deliberately small cohort that reflects the program's emphasis on a supportive, engaging learning environment.
The curriculum blends case-based and systems-based learning approaches, which means students can expect to apply clinical reasoning to patient scenarios from relatively early in their training rather than relying solely on traditional lecture formats. The program operates an on-campus cadaver lab, giving students hands-on anatomical exposure without leaving campus. Its location in a federally designated health professions shortage area adds practical context to the mission of producing clinicians who integrate into underserved communities. Recruiting a culturally diverse cohort is an explicit institutional priority, consistent with the program's stated goal of developing professionals who practice with compassion and cultural competence.
Competitively, the bar is real: matriculants average a 3.8 overall and 3.8 science GPA, though the published minimums sit at 3.0 overall, 3.0 science, and 3.2 for prerequisites. Applicants should treat those floors as eligibility thresholds, not targets. The 500-hour direct patient care requirement must be paid, and general healthcare experience is also required - unpaid shadowing alone will not satisfy these criteria. Prerequisites include general biology, human anatomy with lab, human physiology with lab, microbiology with lab, and statistics, with no time limit on when those courses were completed and a maximum of three outstanding prerequisites permitted at application.
Total tuition comes to $120,665, with a $1,000 seat deposit required upon acceptance. The program reviews applications on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis with a deadline of January 15, 2027, making early submission a practical advantage. Three letters of reference are required, and candidates who advance will complete a required on-site Multiple Mini Interview, a format that assesses interpersonal and situational judgment skills across several brief structured stations rather than a single traditional interview.
An applicant is a strong fit here if they have competitive science preparation, verified paid patient care hours, and a genuine interest in community-oriented, culturally diverse practice - and can submit early enough to benefit from rolling review.