About the program
The Oklahoma City 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 prepare physician assistants who are competent in the art and science of medicine so that they may improve lives in the communities they serve."
Oklahoma City University (OCU) developed a Physician Assistant (PA) Program to impact the delivery of health care in Oklahoma. PAs have repeatedly demonstrated their value as competent, flexible and economically prudent medical practitioners in today’s society. With Oklahoma ranking near the bottom of states in access to primary care and in metrics of health status, a more robust PA workforce is a vital need for our citizens.
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: 7 Years
Program overview
Oklahoma City University offers a 28-month program leading to a Master of Physician Assistant Studies, with the inaugural cohort beginning in January 2027. The program holds ARC-PA Continued accreditation and accepts both out-of-state and international applicants, though international candidates should review the program's website for specific eligibility conditions. Classes are delivered entirely on-site with no distance learning or part-time options available.
The program was developed explicitly to address Oklahoma's documented shortfalls in primary care access and health status metrics, making its mission concrete rather than aspirational. Students preparing to practice in underserved or rural Oklahoma communities will find the program's founding rationale directly aligned with that career path, though the mission statement frames service broadly to communities generally. The curriculum is organized around organ- and systems-based learning with an emphasis on early clinical exposure, an approach that moves students into applied clinical thinking relatively quickly rather than segregating basic science into a purely preclinical phase.
Minimum GPA thresholds sit at 3.00 across overall, science, and prerequisite coursework, meaning applicants with GPAs in the low-to-mid 3.0 range are within the stated minimums but should assess the competitiveness of their full application carefully. Prerequisite coursework must have been completed within the past seven years and includes at least six credits of general chemistry and fifteen credits of general biology. Healthcare experience is required, though it does not need to be paid direct patient care - a meaningful distinction for applicants whose experience comes through volunteering, scribing, or other non-compensated clinical roles. Three letters of reference are required.
Total tuition is $68,059 with a seat deposit of $500. There is no separate tuition rate for in-state versus out-of-state students. The estimated incoming class size is 36. The application deadline is August 1, 2026, and all applications are reviewed together after that deadline rather than on a rolling basis - applicants should plan to submit a complete file well before August to avoid any last-minute complications, though there is no competitive advantage to submitting earlier under this review model.
Interviews are conducted using a Multiple Mini Interview format and require on-site attendance. The MMI structure assesses situational judgment, communication, and ethical reasoning across several short stations rather than a single traditional interview, so candidates unfamiliar with this format should prepare accordingly.
An applicant should judge fit here primarily by asking whether they want to practice in Oklahoma, can meet the prerequisites within the seven-year window, and are comfortable with a cohort environment rooted in serving a state with measurable healthcare access challenges.