About the program
The St. Ambrose 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 St. Ambrose University Physician Assistant Program is to prepare physician assistants to deliver high-quality patient-centered care with compassion and respect. The program provides a supportive environment to assist students as they develop into professionals with the knowledge and skills to contribute to the health and welfare of their communities."
Health science building for graduate healthscience programs and nursing consisting of simulation labs and technology to improve learning. Cadaver lab on main campus.
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: No Requirement
Program overview
St. Ambrose University in Iowa offers a 29-month Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree with ARC-PA Continued accreditation, admitting a small cohort of approximately 30 students beginning each June. The 2027 entering class will start in June of that year, with applications due by October 1, 2026, reviewed on a post-deadline batch basis rather than on a rolling schedule - meaning there is no advantage to submitting early beyond meeting the deadline.
The program's mission centers on producing physician assistants who deliver patient-centered care with compassion and respect while contributing meaningfully to their communities. Curriculum is structured around an organ- and systems-based model, which groups learning by body system rather than by discipline, an approach that many students find helps integrate clinical reasoning earlier in training. Physical resources include a dedicated health science building shared with graduate health science and nursing programs, equipped with simulation labs, and a cadaver lab on the main campus - both practical assets for hands-on learning during the didactic phase.
Competitive applicants will want to note that matriculants typically carry a 3.7 overall GPA and a 3.6 science GPA, meaningfully above the 3.0 minimums set for overall, science, and prerequisite coursework. There is no time limit on prerequisites, which benefits career-changers with older coursework. The program requires 500 direct patient care hours and healthcare experience broadly; paid patient care is recommended but not mandatory. Prerequisite science coursework is substantial - eight credits of general chemistry with lab, four each of general biology with lab, human anatomy with lab, human physiology with lab, and microbiology with lab, plus three credits of statistics.
Total tuition runs $119,848 with no separate in-state or out-of-state rate, since out-of-state students are accepted and the program applies a single tuition figure. International applicants are not accepted. The program runs entirely on campus with no distance learning or part-time option. Applicants must submit at least three letters of reference and, if selected, complete a required on-site Multiple Mini Interview.
An applicant assessing fit should honestly weigh whether their GPA, patient care background, and preference for a small cohort in a simulation-equipped campus environment align with what this program's numbers and structure reflect.