About the program
The University of California – San Diego 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 University of California San Diego School of Medicine Atkinson Physician Assistant Education Program will recruit and retain learners who reflect the diverse population of California. Graduates will be prepared to provide safe, effective, person-centered healthcare in various settings to improve the health and well-being of the patients and communities we serve."
The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Atkinson Physician Assistant Education Program stands out for several distinctive features that contribute to its uniqueness and excellence in physician assistant (PA) education. Integration with a Leading Research University UCSD is renowned for its research-intensive environment, which provides PA learners with access to cutting-edge medical research and technologies. The integration of the PA program within such a prestigious institution allows
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: No Requirement
Program overview
The University of California San Diego Atkinson Physician Assistant Education Program is a provisionally accredited, 29-month program conferring a Master of Advanced Study in Physician Assistant Studies (MAS-PAS), with its inaugural cohort scheduled to begin in June 2027. Because the program carries provisional rather than continuing accreditation status, applicants should research the implications for licensure and employment in their intended states before applying.
The program is deliberately small, admitting an estimated 30 students per cohort, which suggests a close learning environment within a large research university setting. UCSD's research-intensive infrastructure gives learners exposure to current medical science and technology in a way that few programs can replicate. Pedagogically, the curriculum draws on asynchronous learning, case-based learning, collaborative and team-based approaches, and an organ-systems framework - a combination well suited to applicants who are self-directed and comfortable with active, problem-centered study rather than traditional lecture formats. The mission explicitly prioritizes graduating clinicians who reflect California's diversity and who can deliver person-centered care across varied practice settings, signaling that the program values community health awareness alongside clinical competency.
Admission is competitive. Matriculants have carried mean overall and science GPAs of 3.79 and 3.78, respectively, though the formal minimums are 3.00 in both categories. Applicants with GPAs in the lower range of eligibility should be candid about their realistic prospects. Healthcare experience is required, though paid direct patient care is recommended rather than mandatory - a distinction worth noting for applicants whose experience includes supervised or volunteer clinical work. The application deadline is August 1, 2026, and all files are reviewed after that single deadline passes rather than on a rolling basis, so early submission does not provide a strategic advantage.
Prerequisite coursework includes general chemistry (4 credits), substantial biology (12 credits), human anatomy with lab (4 credits), human physiology with lab (4 credits), microbiology with lab (4 credits), and statistics (3 credits), with no time limit imposed on when those courses were completed. Three letters of reference are required. Interviews use the Multiple Mini Interview format and are conducted remotely rather than onsite. Out-of-state students are accepted, as are international applicants under certain conditions the program specifies on its website.
Total tuition is $183,836 with a $1,000 seat deposit, and there is no separate tuition rate structure for in-state versus out-of-state students. The program is in-person only with no part-time track available, so applicants must be positioned to relocate to the San Diego area and commit full-time for nearly two and a half years.
An applicant should judge fit primarily by whether they are prepared for a competitive, research-adjacent environment with a strong GPA profile, are comfortable with the implications of provisional accreditation, and can commit fully to an immersive on-site program starting June 2027.