About the program
The South College – Asheville 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 South College Master of Health Science in Physician Assistant Studies program is to educate highly qualified physician assistants, preparing them to become competent, compassionate, and comprehensive healthcare providers for clinical practice. Endeavoring to provide students with a comprehensive evidence-based medical education that focuses on the future delivery of excellent healthcare, the program promotes the importance of health maintenance, health education, the prevention of disease, and the need for a lifelong path dedicated to continuous learning. The faculty strive for educational excellence as they prepare physician assistant students to think critically, communicate compassionately, and understand the importance of collaborating in interdisciplinary healthcare"
Please see the program website: https://www.south.edu/physician-assistant-studies-asheville/
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 · up to 2 outstanding at application
Program overview
South College in Asheville, North Carolina offers a Master of Health Science in Physician Assistant Studies, currently holding Provisional ARC-PA accreditation. The program runs 27 months and is scheduled to begin its first cohort in January 2027, so prospective students are looking at a program in its early operational phase rather than one with an established graduating class history.
The application deadline is December 1, 2026, and the program uses rolling admissions reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, which means early submission carries a practical advantage. Interviews are conducted in a Multiple Mini Interview format and do not require onsite attendance. The program accepts out-of-state students and international applicants with certain exceptions detailed on the program website.
Academically, matriculants have averaged a 3.6 overall GPA and a 3.5 science GPA, though the formal minimums sit at 2.75 across overall, science, and prerequisite categories. The gap between those minimums and actual matriculant averages is substantial, so applicants near the floor should set realistic expectations about competitiveness within a projected class of 85 students. The GRE is required; the MCAT will not be accepted. Three letters of reference are required. Prerequisite coursework must have been completed within the past seven years, and applicants may enter with no more than two outstanding prerequisites. Required science courses include general chemistry with lab, general biology with lab, human anatomy with lab, human physiology, and microbiology with lab.
On the patient-care front, both paid direct patient care hours and broader healthcare experience are recommended but not formally required. Applicants who lack substantial hands-on hours are not automatically disqualified, though those hours likely remain competitively meaningful.
The program's mission centers on producing competent, compassionate practitioners who emphasize health maintenance, disease prevention, and evidence-based care. Curriculum delivery relies on case-based learning, collaborative and team-based learning, and an organ or systems-based organizational structure - approaches that tend to reward students who work well in group problem-solving environments and can tolerate ambiguity in clinical reasoning exercises.
Total tuition is $130,669 with no differentiated in-state or out-of-state rate, and the seat deposit is $1,500. The program is full-time, fully in-person, and offers no part-time track or distance learning option.
An applicant should weigh whether they are comfortable enrolling in a provisionally accredited program launching its inaugural class, and assess whether the curriculum philosophy, Asheville location, and cost structure align with their individual circumstances and career goals.