About the program
The University of Iowa 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 University of Iowa Physician Assistant Program is to recruit exemplary individuals from diverse backgrounds and educate them to provide high quality, compassionate health care as a physician assistant."
100% integrated with our MD Program. Housed in the Carver College Medicine and is part of the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics!
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: 7 Years
Program overview
The University of Iowa offers a 28-month MPAS program housed within the Carver College of Medicine and fully integrated with the university's MD program, giving students direct access to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics throughout their training. The program holds continued ARC-PA accreditation and admits a small cohort of approximately 25 students each August, with the next cohort starting August 2027.
The curriculum draws on multiple pedagogical approaches - asynchronous, case-based, problem-based, systems-based, and team-based learning - alongside early clinical exposure, reflecting the program's immersion in an active academic medical environment. Being embedded alongside medical students in a major academic health system is a meaningful structural feature rather than a marketing point; it shapes the clinical culture and available training opportunities in ways that a standalone PA program typically cannot replicate.
The program's mission emphasizes recruiting from diverse backgrounds and preparing graduates to deliver high-quality, compassionate care. International applicants are not accepted, and there is no part-time or distance-learning option, so the commitment is a full-time, on-site 28 months.
On the academic side, matriculants have averaged a 3.77 overall GPA and a 3.75 science GPA, which signals a competitive pool despite a minimum overall GPA of 3.00 and a minimum science GPA of 3.40. Competitive applicants should regard those minimums as floors, not targets. Prerequisites include 8 credits each of general chemistry and general biology, 3 credits of human physiology, and 3 credits of statistics, all completed within the past seven years.
Patient-care requirements are specific and non-negotiable: 1,000 hours of direct patient care are required, and those hours must be paid. Healthcare experience beyond that is also required. These are higher bars than many programs set, and applicants who hold only volunteer or shadowing hours will not qualify.
The application deadline is October 1, 2026, and admission is rolling on a first-come, first-served basis, meaning earlier submission is a practical advantage. Three letters of reference are required, and interviews are conducted in a Multiple Mini Interview format on-site. Out-of-state students are accepted, and the program lists separate tuition rates for in-state and out-of-state applicants - a cost factor worth investigating directly. The seat deposit is $1,500.
An applicant should pursue this program if they want a rigorous academic-medicine environment, can meet the paid patient-care requirement, and are prepared to compete within a small, high-GPA cohort.