About the program
The Pfeiffer 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: "Provide a supportive learning environment for our students, with an emphasis on rural medicine, that graduates physician assistants who are prepared to provide patient-centered healthcare."
The program offers a comprehensive, hands-on education with a focus on rural care. Advanced facilities, including a surgical suite, ICU suites, standardized patient exam rooms, a gross anatomy lab, and a physical diagnosis lab. Our experienced faculty, including military veterans, bring multifaceted perspectives to the classroom. Located downtown, students gain access to clinical opportunities and community engagement.
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: no. DACA status applicants are not considered. Distance learning is not offered. Part-time enrollment is not available.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 7 Years · up to 2 outstanding at application
Program overview
Pfeiffer University in North Carolina offers a 28-month Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies with a January 2027 start date, accepting applicants from out of state though not from international candidates. The program currently holds ARC-PA accreditation on probation, which is a material fact applicants should weigh carefully when evaluating this option alongside programs with full accreditation standing.
The program's mission centers on rural medicine and patient-centered care, making it a particularly relevant choice for applicants who intend to practice in underserved or rural communities. Curriculum delivery draws on multiple pedagogical approaches, including case-based, problem-based, systems-based, and team-based learning, reflecting an active and applied educational model. Facilities include a surgical suite, ICU suites, standardized patient exam rooms, a gross anatomy lab, and a physical diagnosis lab, supporting hands-on preparation before students enter clinical rotations. Faculty include military veterans, which contributes additional perspective on primary and acute care settings. The downtown location is noted to support community engagement and clinical access.
The incoming class is small at approximately 28 students. Matriculants have averaged a 3.44 overall GPA and a 3.55 science GPA, with program minimums set at 3.00 overall and 3.20 for prerequisites. Applicants must document at least 500 hours of paid direct patient care, a firm requirement rather than a recommendation. Healthcare experience beyond direct patient care is recommended but not required. Required prerequisites include human anatomy with lab, human physiology with lab, microbiology with lab, and statistics, all completed within the past seven years, with no more than two prerequisites outstanding at the time of application.
Total tuition is estimated at $86,000 with no differentiated rate for in-state versus out-of-state students. A seat deposit of $1,000 is required upon acceptance. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with a deadline of December 1, 2026, so submitting early in the cycle is advisable. Three letters of reference are required, and the interview process involves an in-person panel format.
An applicant should judge fit here primarily by their commitment to rural or underserved medicine, their comfort with the current probationary accreditation status, and whether their paid patient care hours meet the 500-hour threshold.