About the program
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 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 Department of Physician Assistant (DPA) at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is to provide an innovative advanced medical education to physician assistant students who will transform health care delivery to the multicultural population of South Texas and beyond. The DPA promotes the importance of lifelong learning and self-evaluation in its students."
We provide student clinical education opportunities in diverse settings and medically underserved areas/populations. Human cadavers and computer-assisted learning modules are utilized in the laboratory setting. Clinical correlations support concurrent modular coursework involving the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
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. Veteran support programs are available; consult the program directly for details.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: No Requirement
Program overview
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley offers a 28-month Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree that holds ARC-PA Continued accreditation. The program begins in August 2027 and admits a relatively large incoming class of approximately 75 students, reflecting its capacity to serve a substantial regional need. Its mission is explicitly tied to the multicultural population of South Texas and medically underserved communities, making it a particularly strong match for applicants who are drawn to community health, health equity, or rural and underserved practice environments.
The curriculum draws on several integrated pedagogical approaches, including case-based, problem-based, systems-based, and team-based learning, with early clinical exposure woven in throughout. Human cadaver dissection and computer-assisted laboratory modules support foundational science instruction, while clinical correlations run concurrently with modular coursework to reinforce the connection between basic science and clinical reasoning. The program does not offer distance learning or a part-time track, so students should expect full-time, on-site commitment for the full 28 months.
Competitive matriculants have arrived with both an overall and science GPA of 3.7, though the program sets its minimum threshold at 3.0 for both overall and prerequisite coursework, with no time limit on how recently prerequisites were completed. Paid direct patient care experience is recommended but not required, and the same applies to broader healthcare experience, which lowers one barrier for applicants who are earlier in their pre-PA journey. Prerequisites include general chemistry, general biology, human anatomy, human physiology, microbiology, and statistics, totaling 24 credit hours.
The program uses rolling admissions with an application deadline of September 1, 2026, meaning early submission meaningfully improves an applicant's chances of review. Three letters of reference are required. Interviews are conducted in either a traditional or panel format, and they are not required to be completed onsite. Out-of-state and international applicants are both accepted, though separate tuition rates apply depending on residency status - a practical consideration given that in-state tuition in Texas is substantially lower for residents. A seat deposit of $1,000 is required upon acceptance.
Applicants who are mission-aligned with serving diverse and underserved South Texas communities, comfortable with a large cohort, and seeking a program with flexible GPA minimums and no mandatory patient care hours should assess whether UTRGV fits their geographic preferences and financial situation before applying early in the cycle.