About the program
The Notre Dame of Maryland 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 Physician Assistant Studies program at NDMU endeavors to attract compassionate and intellectually curious applicants who will be mentored and educated to become exceptional Physician Assistants who practice collaboratively, thereby demonstrating professional excellence and social responsibility, while serving their communities."
On campus mannequins and standardized patient simulations. Professional Standardized patients.
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 not considered. Distance learning is not offered. Part-time enrollment is not available. On-campus housing is available.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 8 Years · up to 3 outstanding at application
Program overview
Notre Dame of Maryland University offers a 27-month Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies currently holding Provisional ARC-PA accreditation, with its inaugural cohort scheduled to begin in August 2027. The program accepts out-of-state and international applicants and does not offer part-time or distance learning options, making it a full-time, on-campus commitment throughout its duration.
The admissions bar is straightforward: a minimum 3.00 GPA across overall, science, and prerequisite coursework, paired with at least 500 direct patient care hours. Paid patient care experience is recommended but not required, though some form of healthcare experience is mandatory. Prerequisite coursework must have been completed within the past eight years, and applicants may enter with up to three outstanding prerequisites still in progress. Required science prerequisites include Human Anatomy with lab (4 credits), Human Physiology with lab (4 credits), Microbiology with lab (3 credits), and Statistics (3 credits). The program accepts roughly 35 students per cohort, keeping class sizes relatively small.
The curriculum integrates case-based, problem-based, and organ- or systems-based learning approaches, which collectively push students toward clinical reasoning from early in training rather than passive content acquisition. The program also emphasizes hands-on simulation through on-campus mannequins and professional standardized patient encounters, giving students structured opportunities to practice clinical skills before entering supervised practice settings. The mission explicitly prioritizes compassionate, collaborative practitioners oriented toward community service and social responsibility - language that signals the program values applicants who can articulate a clear commitment to accessible, team-based care.
Total estimated tuition runs $85,000 with no differentiated in-state or out-of-state rate. A seat deposit of $1,500 is required upon acceptance. The application deadline is March 1, 2027, and the program uses rolling admissions, meaning earlier submission meaningfully improves an applicant's position in the review cycle. Three letters of reference are required. Finalists should expect both a traditional interview and a group interview component conducted on campus.
Applicants who fit this program well are those with a solid but not exceptional GPA near or above 3.0, at least 500 patient care hours, a genuine interest in community-oriented medicine, and the flexibility to begin studies in August 2027 - and because this is a provisionally accredited new program, candidates should research what provisional status means for licensure eligibility in their intended state of practice before committing.