About the program
The Nova Southeastern University, Jacksonville 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 prepare physician assistant students to provide high quality patient-centered care."
On-campus simulation lab, POCUS instruction, affiliation with Mayo Clinic, MPH/PA concurrent degree option, and Emergency Medicine Graduate Certificate option.
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. Veteran support programs are available; consult the program directly for details.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: No Requirement · up to 2 outstanding at application
Program overview
This 27-month program at Nova Southeastern University's Jacksonville campus awards a Master of Medical Science degree and holds continued ARC-PA accreditation. It follows an organ-based and systems-based curriculum structure, which organizes learning around body systems rather than discrete disciplines, a format many students find mirrors clinical reasoning more closely than traditional course-by-course approaches. The program's stated mission is straightforward: prepare graduates to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care.
With a matriculant overall GPA of 3.58 and science GPA of 3.47, the program attracts applicants who are academically competitive, though the minimum thresholds sit at 3.00 for both. Applicants closer to the minimum should present strong clinical experience and other distinguishing factors. Notably, paid direct patient care and healthcare experience are recommended but not required, which makes this program accessible to applicants still building their clinical hours - though competitive applicants will typically have meaningful hands-on exposure regardless of the formal requirement.
Several curriculum features stand out. The program operates an on-campus simulation lab and incorporates point-of-care ultrasound instruction, both of which reflect current clinical training priorities. The affiliation with Mayo Clinic is a meaningful distinguishing element for students interested in high-acuity or academic medical environments. Additionally, the program offers a concurrent MPH/PA degree option for those interested in public health alongside clinical practice, and an Emergency Medicine Graduate Certificate option for students with that specialty interest.
The estimated incoming class size of 60 is moderately sized, which tends to support cohort cohesion without being overly intimate. The program accepts out-of-state and international applicants and does not offer distance learning or a part-time track, so students must be prepared for full-time, on-site commitment starting in May 2027.
Total tuition runs $100,331 with a $1,000 seat deposit. There is no separate tuition rate structure. Prerequisite coursework includes general chemistry with lab (8 credits), general biology with lab (4 credits), human anatomy (3 credits), human physiology (3 credits), and microbiology with lab (4 credits). There is no time limit on prerequisites, and up to two outstanding prerequisites are permitted at the time of application. The GRE is required; the MCAT is not accepted.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis with a deadline of January 15, 2027, so early submission is strategically important. Two letters of recommendation are required. Interviews are conducted in either traditional or panel format and are not required to be onsite.
An applicant should weigh this program seriously if they value systems-based learning, want access to simulation and POCUS training, have interest in emergency medicine or public health dual-degree pathways, and are comfortable with a GRE requirement and a tuition investment just over $100,000.