About the program
The Tarleton State 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 Tarleton State University Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Medicine is to educate servant leaders from a broad spectrum of experiences as Physician Assistants who will provide exceptional healthcare in an interprofessional setting; and serve rural and medically underserved populations through community involvement, public health policy and advocacy."
The Tarleton State University Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Medicine is a 27-month continuous, in-person program; committed to creating an academic experience known for its excellence in Physician Assistant education and scholarly activity in establishing best practice sustainable initiatives geared towards eliminating health disparities in rural communities and beyond.
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 considered. Distance learning is not offered. Part-time enrollment is not available. Veteran support programs are available; consult the program directly for details.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: No Requirement · up to 1 outstanding at application
Program overview
Tarleton State University offers a 27-month, in-person Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Medicine housed in Texas and currently holding Provisional ARC-PA accreditation. The program admits its first cohort in May 2027, with a rolling admissions process that reviews applications on a first-come, first-served basis and a deadline of October 1, 2026, making early submission a practical necessity rather than a suggestion.
The program's mission centers on training servant leaders who will deliver care in rural and medically underserved communities, a focus that shapes the entire academic experience. Applicants who have already been drawn to community health, rural medicine, or health equity work will find the program's identity aligns naturally with those interests. Curriculum delivery emphasizes collaborative and team-based learning alongside an organ and systems-based framework, preparing students to function effectively within interprofessional care teams. The program also places institutional weight on scholarly activity aimed at eliminating health disparities, so students can expect engagement with research and evidence-based practice in that context.
To be competitive, applicants need a minimum 3.00 GPA across both overall and prerequisite coursework, with no time limit on how old those prerequisites can be. Required science coursework includes four-credit Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, and Microbiology courses, each with a lab component, plus a three-credit Statistics course. Applicants may enter with one outstanding prerequisite remaining. Direct patient care hours must total at least 500, and critically, that experience must be paid - volunteer hours alone will not satisfy this requirement. Healthcare experience beyond those hours is also required. The program accepts out-of-state students but does not accept international applicants and offers no distance learning or part-time pathway.
Each incoming cohort holds approximately 60 students. The admissions process requires a minimum of two reference letters and concludes with a required, traditional in-person interview. The seat deposit is $750, and separate in-state and out-of-state tuition rates apply, so cost projections will differ meaningfully depending on residency status.
An applicant should strongly consider whether they have a genuine, demonstrated commitment to rural or underserved care before applying, as that mission is not incidental here but central to what the program is building.