About the program
The University of Saint Francis (Fort Wayne) 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 Physician Assistant Program impassions a community of lifelong learners to become academically and professionally competent, service-oriented, and patient-centered clinicians capable of caring for diverse individuals in a variety of medical settings through innovative and evidence-based practices."
Graduates are sought out by employers for their sound clinical reasoning skills and competency in evidence-based medicine and for the high level of compassion and integrity they bring to their roles. Program highlights include on-campus simulation, opportunity for 3 elective clinical rotations, a human cadaver lab with student-performed dissections, and expert faculty.
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: No Requirement · up to 2 outstanding at application
Program overview
The University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana offers a 27-month Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies with ARC-PA Continued accreditation, set to begin in August 2027. With an incoming class of just 25 students, this is a small, cohort-driven program that suits applicants who want close faculty relationships and a tightly integrated curriculum. The program does not accept international applicants and has no distance learning or part-time option, so candidates must be prepared for a full-time, on-campus commitment in Fort Wayne.
The program's mission centers on producing service-oriented, patient-centered clinicians who can work across diverse medical settings using evidence-based, innovative practices. That orientation is reflected directly in how instruction is delivered: the curriculum blends case-based, problem-based, organ/systems-based, and team-based learning approaches, which together prioritize clinical reasoning over rote memorization. Practical skill-building is reinforced through on-campus simulation labs, a human cadaver lab where students perform their own dissections, and three elective clinical rotations that allow some degree of specialization during the clinical year.
Competitively, matriculants arrive with an average overall GPA of 3.7 and a science GPA of 3.6, though the program's stated minimums sit at 3.0 for both. Applicants whose numbers fall closer to the floor should expect to strengthen their file with strong patient-care hours and letters of recommendation. Paid direct patient care is specifically required, not optional, and healthcare experience is mandatory as well - the program is not designed for applicants still accumulating clinical hours. Prerequisite coursework must include human anatomy with lab, human physiology with lab, and microbiology with lab, each at a minimum of three credits. There is no time limit on when those prerequisites were completed, and up to two prerequisites may still be outstanding at the time of application.
Applications are reviewed on a post-deadline basis, with all materials due by December 1, 2026. Applicants should plan accordingly, as there is no rolling review that rewards early submission. Three letters of recommendation are required. Finalists are interviewed on campus through a combination of traditional and panel interview formats, so candidates should prepare for both one-on-one and group evaluation settings.
Total tuition is $129,500 with no differentiated rates for in-state versus out-of-state students, though out-of-state applicants are accepted. A $1,000 seat deposit is required upon acceptance. There are no prerequisite time restrictions, which may benefit career-changers or non-traditional applicants whose science coursework is older.
An applicant should choose this program if they are drawn to small-cohort learning, hands-on anatomy education, and a mission that explicitly values service and compassion alongside clinical competency - and should honestly assess whether their patient-care background and GPA profile align with what matriculants actually bring to the program, not just the minimums.