About the program
The Northeastern 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 educate and inspire compassionate clinicians from diverse backgrounds to become accomplished leaders and innovators in all aspects of healthcare."
legacy program, simulation lab, expansive healthcare opportunities
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: 10 Years · up to 1 outstanding at application
Program overview
Northeastern University in Massachusetts offers a 24-month Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, holding Continued accreditation from ARC-PA, with the next cohort beginning in August 2027. The program accepts out-of-state and, with certain exceptions, international applicants, making it geographically accessible to a broad pool of candidates.
The admissions bar is relatively straightforward on paper: minimum GPAs of 3.00 across overall, science, and prerequisite coursework. Notably, paid direct patient care is recommended but not required, and healthcare experience carries the same advisory weight. This stance makes the program potentially accessible to applicants who have volunteer or shadowing hours but have not yet held a clinical position, though candidates with hands-on paid experience will likely be more competitive. Prerequisites must have been completed within the last 10 years, and applicants may carry no more than one outstanding prerequisite at the time of application. Required coursework includes general chemistry with lab, general biology with lab, human anatomy, and statistics, with credit minimums set at four credits each for the lab sciences and two credits each for anatomy and statistics.
The curriculum is organized around case-based, team-based, and organ or systems-based learning - an approach that mirrors how clinical problems are actually encountered in practice. The program's stated mission emphasizes producing clinically accomplished graduates from diverse backgrounds who can take on leadership and innovation roles across healthcare settings. Practical training infrastructure includes a simulation lab and access to what the program describes as expansive healthcare opportunities in the Boston area. Northeastern is described as a legacy program, suggesting an established track record and institutional depth.
The entering class is set at 52 students, which is a mid-sized cohort that generally allows for reasonable faculty-to-student interaction without being as intimate as smaller programs. Total tuition is $122,928 with no differentiated rates for in-state or out-of-state students, and a seat deposit of $1,000 is required upon acceptance. The application deadline is August 1, 2026, with all applications reviewed after that date under a regular decision model. Interviews are conducted in a traditional format and are not required to be completed onsite. Three letters of reference are required.
The program does not offer part-time enrollment or distance learning options, so applicants must be prepared to commit fully to a 24-month, in-person program in Boston. An applicant should assess fit primarily by evaluating whether they meet the prerequisite and GPA thresholds, are comfortable with the total cost of attendance, and are drawn to an urban academic environment that prioritizes case-based problem-solving and interprofessional collaboration.