About the program
The Michigan State 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 mission of the Michigan State University PA Medicine Program is to provide a team-based educational program that produces "Day 1 ready” to begin practice as a PA and enhances access to medical care for Michigan citizens. This innovative model integrates PA medicine students to a primary-care focused, holistic, evidence-based, and student-centered curriculum while also nurturing Osteopathic principles and collaborative experiences with medical students."
• Interprofessional learning and collaboration with a top ranked osteopathic medical school. • Preparation to be a “Day 1” ready-to-begin practice PA who will contribute to medical access and patient care, leadership, and advocacy within the PA profession. • Varied experience in the clinical training year due to the large number of elective opportunities available in both in rural and urban environments.
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: No Requirement · up to 8 outstanding at application
Program overview
Michigan State University offers a 27-month Master of Physician Assistant Medicine program currently holding provisional ARC-PA accreditation, with its inaugural cohort scheduled to begin in May 2027. The program accepts 38 students per class and operates on a rolling admissions basis, meaning applications submitted earlier in the cycle carry a practical advantage - the deadline is November 1, 2026. Out-of-state and international applicants are both eligible, though separate tuition rates apply depending on residency, and a $500 seat deposit is required upon acceptance.
The mission centers on producing graduates who are "Day 1 ready" to enter practice while also improving healthcare access for Michigan residents. That dual emphasis on clinical preparedness and community impact runs through the curriculum, which blends asynchronous, case-based, problem-based, and systems-based learning with early clinical exposure and interprofessional collaboration. A defining feature of this program is its integration with Michigan State's osteopathic medical school, where PA students work alongside DO students in a collaborative educational environment - an arrangement that distinguishes it from programs with more siloed training structures. Clinical rotations offer a notably broad range of elective options spanning both rural and urban settings, giving students meaningful flexibility in shaping their training year.
The academic bar for accepted students is high in practice if not on paper. While the minimum prerequisite GPA is 3.0, matriculants have averaged a 3.9 overall and 3.9 science GPA, so competitive applicants should realistically position themselves at or near that level. Required prerequisites include general chemistry, human anatomy, human physiology, microbiology with lab, and statistics, with no time limit on when those courses were completed and allowance for up to eight outstanding prerequisites at the time of application. Paid direct patient care and healthcare experience are recommended but not formally required, which makes this program more accessible to applicants still building their clinical hours - though the high matriculant GPAs suggest that academic strength is essential. Three letters of reference are required, and interviews are conducted in a traditional format with no onsite requirement.
Applicants should weigh this program carefully if they are drawn to osteopathic principles, interprofessional education, and a mission-driven focus on healthcare access, and should apply early given the rolling review process.