About the program
The Seton Hill 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: "In the spirit of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, which is to live in service to others, particularly the poor and vulnerable, Seton Hill University’s Physician Assistant Program prepares its graduates to provide quality, patient-centered health care that seeks to transform lives, families, and communities. Through rigorous academic training and service experiences, motivated students are developed into compassionate physician assistants who care for all patients with humility, respect, empathy, and dignity for the human person."
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.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 7 Years
Program overview
Seton Hill University offers a 27-month Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies housed in Pennsylvania, carrying ARC-PA continued accreditation. The program admits its next cohort beginning January 2028, with applications reviewed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis and a deadline of April 1, 2027 - meaning early submission is a practical advantage, not merely a formality.
The mission is rooted in the tradition of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, with an explicit commitment to serving the poor and vulnerable. This isn't incidental language; the program integrates service experiences alongside rigorous academic work and expects graduates to approach all patients with humility, empathy, and respect for human dignity. Applicants who are drawn to underserved medicine or community-focused practice will find this institutional identity more than decorative. Instruction follows an organ- and systems-based curriculum model, which organizes learning around the body's interconnected systems rather than siloed disciplines.
Academically, the program sets a minimum overall and prerequisite GPA of 3.20, though matriculants typically arrive with a 3.73 overall and a 3.76 science GPA - a meaningful gap that reflects genuine competition for the 41 seats in each incoming class. Prerequisite coursework must have been completed within the past seven years and includes general chemistry with lab, three credits of general biology, human anatomy with lab, human physiology with lab, microbiology with lab, and statistics. Paid direct patient care hours are required, as is documented healthcare experience more broadly, so applicants without a formal, compensated clinical role should address this before applying.
Total tuition runs $204,148 with no differentiated rate for in-state versus out-of-state students. A $1,000 seat deposit is required upon acceptance. Out-of-state students are accepted, and international applicants are considered with certain exceptions noted on the program's website. There is no distance learning option and no part-time track, so candidates must be prepared for a full-time, on-campus commitment across the 27-month span.
The selection process requires at least two letters of reference and an onsite interview that combines traditional one-on-one and group formats. Both components are mandatory, so applicants should prepare for a structured, multi-format evaluation day.
An applicant is best served by this program if they hold a strong science GPA approaching the matriculant average, carry verified paid patient care experience, and genuinely align with a mission centered on service to underserved populations - candidates who check the academic boxes but lack that values alignment may find a different institutional culture a better fit.