About the program
The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine 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 program's mission is to educate and mentor highly qualified physician assistants students to become competent, compassionate healthcare providers who embrace cultural diversity, inclusion and equity, which is supported through scholarly activity and a broad range of clinical practice experiences."
Using multiple modalities of instruction, students will actively engage in the material. Through small group work, problem-based learning, and practical application of information, students develop key characteristics of a future health care provider such as teamwork, communication skills and responsibility to other members of the group.
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. On-campus housing is available.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 10 Years · up to 2 outstanding at application
Program overview
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine offers a 27-month Master of Science in physician assistant studies, with the next cohort beginning June 2027. The program holds continued ARC-PA accreditation, accepts out-of-state applicants, and does not admit international students. With an estimated incoming class size of 70 students and rolling admissions closing December 1, 2026, early application is a practical advantage since files are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
The program's mission centers on developing competent, compassionate providers who value cultural diversity, inclusion, and equity, supported by scholarly activity and varied clinical experiences. Curriculum delivery is organ-based and systems-based, drawing on multiple instructional modalities including small group work and problem-based learning. This approach is designed to build teamwork, communication, and professional accountability alongside clinical knowledge - qualities the faculty treat as foundational rather than supplemental.
On the academic side, the minimum GPA requirements sit at 3.00 overall and 3.00 for science coursework, though matriculants have arrived with an overall GPA of approximately 3.80 and a science GPA of 3.73, signaling meaningful competition above the floor. Prerequisite coursework must have been completed within the last ten years, and applicants may carry no more than two outstanding prerequisites at the time of application. Required science prerequisites include general chemistry and general biology at 11 credits each, both with labs, plus four-credit lab courses in human anatomy and human physiology. The prerequisite GPA floor is 2.00.
The patient care bar is relatively accessible: 200 hours of direct patient care are required, paid experience is recommended but not mandatory, and general healthcare exposure carries the same recommended-but-not-required designation. This positions the program as reachable for applicants who have been deliberate about building clinical exposure without necessarily having years of paid work in a clinical role.
Interviews are conducted in a traditional format and are not required to be onsite, which reduces logistical burden for applicants traveling from a distance. Three letters of reference are required. There is no part-time enrollment option and no distance learning component. Total tuition is $112,586 with a $1,000 seat deposit; no separate tuition rate structure exists for in-state versus out-of-state students.
Applicants should assess fit by honestly comparing their GPA profile against the matriculant averages and confirming they can satisfy the science prerequisite hours and lab requirements within the ten-year window before the December 2026 deadline.