About the program
The Tufts 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 Tufts University School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program is to educate a diverse body of students in a student-centered, inclusive, and collaborative environment. The Tufts PA community will have a positive impact on and meaningfully engage in all aspects of the health care continuum, including disease prevention and management, health promotion and maintenance, and end of life care. As patient advocates, Tufts PA students and faculty will be integral members of the health care team, improving access to care for all populations and across all communities they serve."
On-campus simulation lab, cadaveric lab, orthopedic core rotation
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. On-campus housing is available.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 10 Years
Program overview
Tufts University School of Medicine offers a 25-month Master of Medical Science degree program based in Massachusetts, with the next cohort beginning January 2027. The program holds Continued ARC-PA accreditation, accepts out-of-state and international applicants (with some exceptions noted on the program's website), and does not offer part-time enrollment or distance learning options.
The admissions bar here is genuinely high. Matriculants carry both an overall and science GPA of 3.8, which places this program among the more selective in the country, though the stated minimums for science and prerequisite GPAs are 3.0. Applicants must document at least 1,000 hours of direct patient care, and critically, those hours must be paid - volunteer experience alone will not satisfy this requirement. Healthcare experience beyond patient care is also required. Candidates who are still building their clinical resume or whose GPA sits near the minimum should realistically assess their competitiveness before applying.
Prerequisite coursework includes eight credits each of general chemistry and general biology (both with labs), human anatomy, human physiology, microbiology with a lab component, and statistics. All prerequisites must have been completed within the past ten years. Three letters of reference are required, and interviews are conducted in a traditional format without a required on-site component.
Curriculum blends case-based and organ systems-based approaches, which tends to reward learners who are comfortable with active, problem-oriented study rather than purely lecture-driven content. Practical training resources include an on-campus simulation lab and a cadaveric lab, and the program includes an orthopedic core rotation as a distinct clinical feature - meaningful for applicants interested in musculoskeletal medicine. The mission explicitly emphasizes diversity, patient advocacy, and improving healthcare access across all communities, suggesting the program actively seeks applicants whose background or goals reflect those values.
Total tuition is $123,091 with no differential rates by residency status, and the seat deposit is $1,000. The application deadline is August 1, 2026, but because admission is rolling and reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, submitting well before the deadline meaningfully improves an applicant's chances.
An applicant should honestly weigh whether their GPA, paid clinical hours, and commitment to underserved or diverse patient populations align with what this program's matriculant profile and mission consistently reflect.