About the program
The Trine 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 MPAS Program at Trine University will provide an outstanding educational experience that produces PA graduates capable of delivering safe, appropriate, effective, and cost-efficient medical care in a variety of clinical settings, while also preparing them to succeed, lead, and serve."
On campus simulation lab, cadaver lab, available anatomage table
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: 10 Years
Program overview
Trine University in Indiana offers a 29-month Master of Physician Assistant Studies program that holds ARC-PA Continued accreditation and accepts students from out of state, though international applicants are not eligible. The program admits a relatively small incoming class of 36 students, beginning each cohort in August, with the next start date set for August 2027.
Applicants should understand that this program attracts a competitive pool despite its defined minimums. Matriculants typically present an overall GPA of 3.8 and a science GPA of 3.7, both well above the stated minimums of 3.20 overall and 2.00 for prerequisites. That gap is worth noting: meeting the floor does not make an applicant competitive. Direct patient care experience and broader healthcare experience are each recommended but not required, which gives career-changers or those still building hours a realistic pathway, though stronger candidates will still have meaningful exposure to clinical environments.
The curriculum integrates case-based, problem-based, organ-system, and collaborative team-based learning, reflecting a contemporary approach to medical education that mirrors how clinical reasoning actually works in practice. On campus, students have access to a simulation lab, a cadaver lab, and an anatomage table, which together provide hands-on anatomical and procedural preparation before clinical rotations begin. The program's mission emphasizes producing graduates who can deliver safe, appropriate, effective, and cost-efficient care across varied clinical settings, with an additional emphasis on leadership and service.
Prerequisite coursework must have been completed within the past ten years and includes human anatomy with a required lab component at three credits, human physiology at three credits, microbiology at three credits, and statistics at three credits. The GRE is required; the MCAT is not accepted. At least two letters of reference are needed, and all admitted students must complete an onsite interview, which includes a traditional interview format, a multiple mini interview, and a scenario room component - a more extensive evaluation process than programs that rely on a single interview type.
Admissions operate on a rolling basis with applications reviewed first-come, first-served and a final deadline of April 1, 2027. Given that structure, early submission is strategically important. Total tuition sits at $118,300 with no differentiated in-state or out-of-state rate, and a seat deposit of $1,000 is required upon acceptance. There is no part-time option and no distance learning component, so applicants must be prepared for full-time, on-campus commitment for the duration of the program.
An applicant should assess fit here by honestly comparing their GPA to matriculant averages, submitting early given the rolling review process, and ensuring all prerequisite science coursework falls within the ten-year window before the application deadline.