About the program
The Oregon Health & Science 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 OHSU Physician Assistant Program is to serve as a model of excellence in physician assistant education by preparing graduates to provide patient-centered, evidence-based, and culturally appropriate health care to diverse populations, and to promote lifelong learning, leadership, and service."
Part of an academic health center, on campus simulation centers, high quality clinical placements and preceptors, interprofessional learning 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: No Requirement
Program overview
Oregon Health & Science University offers a 26-month MPAS program in Portland, Oregon, granting a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree. The program holds Continued ARC-PA accreditation and accepts its next cohort starting June 2027, with an application deadline of August 1, 2026. Admissions are rolling and reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, so submitting early carries real strategic weight.
The program's mission centers on preparing graduates to deliver patient-centered, evidence-based, and culturally appropriate care to diverse populations, with explicit emphasis on lifelong learning, leadership, and service. Those commitments translate into a curriculum that blends traditional instruction, case-based and problem-based learning, organ and systems organization, and early clinical exposure - a varied pedagogical approach suited to students who learn well in multiple formats. Being embedded within a major academic health center means students have access to on-campus simulation centers, interprofessional learning alongside other health professions students, and clinical placements backed by a strong preceptor network. These are concrete structural advantages worth weighing, not just institutional backdrop.
Minimum GPA requirements sit at 3.00 for both overall and science coursework, placing this program within reach of applicants who are competitive but not exclusively those at the top of the GPA range. The patient-care bar is set at 2,000 direct patient care hours, with paid experience recommended but not required - applicants with volunteer or unpaid experience who meet the hour threshold are not categorically disadvantaged. Healthcare experience beyond those hours is also required. Prerequisite coursework includes general chemistry (6 credits), general biology (6 credits), human anatomy with lab (4 credits), human physiology with lab (4 credits), microbiology with lab (3 credits), and statistics (3 credits), with no stated time limit on when those courses were completed, which is helpful for career changers with older science coursework.
Total tuition runs $101,250 with no separate rate structure for in-state versus out-of-state students. The program accepts out-of-state applicants as well as international applicants with certain exceptions, so non-Oregon residents should check the program's website for any applicable conditions before applying. The estimated incoming class size is 60, which is relatively large and may suggest reasonable odds for well-qualified applicants compared to programs with smaller cohorts. No part-time or distance learning options exist, meaning this requires a full in-person commitment for the program's duration.
Interviews involve traditional, group, and multiple mini interview formats, and attendance is not required to be onsite - a logistical consideration worth confirming directly with the program. Three letters of reference are required at minimum.
Applicants should honestly assess whether their patient-care profile, GPA, and readiness for a rigorous team-based academic environment in an academic health center setting align with what this program structurally demands and rewards.