About the program
The Thomas Jefferson University, Center City Campus 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 Thomas Jefferson University Center City PA program educates and mentors students to become kind, knowledgeable, and conscientious entry-level medical providers. We foster a collaborative and interprofessional approach to the practice of medicine with an emphasis on service and lifelong learning."
Philadelphia’s rich culture of medical education, coupled with our long-established history of educating outstanding healthcare providers, makes the Center City Campus an ideal setting for continuing education in the PA profession. JCHP’s focus on interprofessional collaboration and curriculum innovation ensure that students are prepared to be successful clinicians who can influence healthcare and impact public health.
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. DACA status applicants are considered. Distance learning is not offered. Part-time enrollment is not available. On-campus housing is available.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 7 Years
Program overview
Thomas Jefferson University's Center City Campus in Philadelphia offers a 27-month program awarding the Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree, carrying ARC-PA continued accreditation. The program accepts its next cohort beginning May 2027, with an application deadline of October 1, 2026, and reviews applications on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis - meaning early submission carries a practical advantage regardless of where an applicant falls within the eligibility range.
The program's mission centers on producing entry-level providers who are kind, knowledgeable, and conscientious, with an institutional emphasis on interprofessional collaboration, service, and lifelong learning. There is no single declared curricular specialty focus, so students should expect a broad generalist medical education delivered within a health sciences university that stresses collaborative practice across disciplines. The Philadelphia location places students in one of the country's densest medical education environments, and the program draws on that setting to support clinical training and professional development.
Admission standards are consistent across the three GPA measures - overall, science, and prerequisite - each requiring a minimum of 3.25. The patient care threshold is relatively accessible at 200 hours, but paid direct patient care is explicitly required, not merely recommended; unpaid or volunteer-only experience will not satisfy this requirement. Additional healthcare experience is recommended but not required for application. Incoming cohorts are capped at approximately 50 students. The program accepts both out-of-state and international applicants and does not offer part-time enrollment or distance learning components.
Prerequisite coursework must have been completed within the past seven years and includes general chemistry with lab (8 credits), general biology with lab (8 credits), human anatomy with lab (4 credits), human physiology with lab (4 credits), microbiology with lab (4 credits), and statistics (3 credits). Applicants must submit a minimum of two reference letters. Interviews are conducted in a traditional format and are not required to be completed on-site.
Total tuition runs $123,000 with no differentiated rate for in-state versus out-of-state students, and the seat deposit upon acceptance is $1,500.
An applicant should assess fit here by honestly evaluating whether their paid patient care hours meet the requirement, whether their GPA clears the 3.25 floor across all three categories, and whether a generalist, interprofessional urban program aligns with their professional goals before submitting early in the cycle.