About the program
The University of Saint Joseph 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 Saint Joseph Physician Assistant Studies Program is to foster the development of engaged learners into well-qualified Physician Assistants. Intellectual rigor in a spiritually enriched, diverse, and inclusive environment will cultivate competent, ethical members of the health care team who will demonstrate the highest level of integrity and a commitment to life-long learning. Graduates will exemplify a sense of social responsibility through service to the community and their profession."
Dedicated facilities for PA students, unique modular-style curriculum, 9 full-time certified PA principal faculty, 100% first time NCCPA PANCE test taker pass rate 7 years in a row.
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. DACA status applicants are considered. Distance learning is not offered. Part-time enrollment is not available.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 7 Years · up to 2 outstanding at application
Program overview
The University of Saint Joseph in Connecticut offers a 28-month Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, holding ARC-PA Continued accreditation and accepting its next cohort beginning January 2027. The program accepts out-of-state and international applicants and operates entirely on campus with no distance learning or part-time options, meaning applicants should be prepared to commit fully and relocate if necessary.
The competitive profile of admitted students centers on a minimum overall GPA of 3.00 and a minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.00, though the average matriculant GPA sits at 3.74, signaling that successful candidates typically exceed the floor by a meaningful margin. Prerequisite coursework must have been completed within the past seven years, and applicants may carry no more than two outstanding prerequisites at the time of application. Required science coursework includes eight credits each of general chemistry and general biology with labs, four credits each of human anatomy with lab, human physiology with lab, and microbiology with lab, plus three credits of statistics. Candidates must also document at least 1,000 hours of direct patient care, though those hours do not need to have been paid, and healthcare experience beyond patient care is separately required.
The program's mission centers on developing ethically grounded, intellectually rigorous practitioners within a spiritually enriched and inclusive environment, with explicit emphasis on social responsibility and community service - values that will likely resonate most with applicants drawn to mission-driven health care settings. The curriculum blends traditional didactic instruction with case-based and organ-system modular approaches, as well as team-based learning, and is delivered by nine full-time certified PA principal faculty in facilities dedicated exclusively to PA students. One standout data point is a 100% first-time NCCPA PANCE pass rate for seven consecutive years, which speaks directly to the program's board preparation outcomes without requiring embellishment.
Total tuition comes to $140,389, with a seat deposit of $2,000 required upon acceptance. The incoming class is capped at approximately 55 students. Applications are reviewed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis with a final deadline of September 1, 2026, making early submission a practical advantage rather than a mere suggestion. A minimum of three letters of reference are required. Finalists are invited to an onsite interview that incorporates panel, group, and multiple mini interview formats - a more complex interview structure than many programs use, so candidates should prepare across multiple modalities and be comfortable performing in both individual and collaborative interview settings.
An applicant should judge fit here primarily by whether the mission's emphasis on service, integrity, and community aligns with their personal values, and whether their GPA and patient-care hours are competitive against the 3.74 average matriculant profile rather than just the 3.00 minimum.