About the program
The University of the Cumberlands 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 Physician Assistant Program is to educate and prepare competent, compassionate, and committed Physician Assistant leaders who, as integral members of the modern professional healthcare team, are driven by academic excellence and will be servant leaders in their communities. The faculty and staff of the Physician Assistant Program will provide academic and clinical excellence in an environment of compassion and team cooperation, seeking to prepare clinicians for a lifelong commitment to continuing education, leadership, and medical service."
The Williamsburg PA program at the University of the Cumberlands is unique for its strong focus on rural and underserved care, hands-on skills training, early and diverse clinical rotations, small cohort sizes with accessible faculty, emphasis on primary care and community health, interprofessional collaboration, and immersive training in an Appalachian setting that prepares graduates for real-world clinical practice.
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: 10 Years
Program overview
The University of the Cumberlands offers a 27-month Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree in Williamsburg, Kentucky, with ARC-PA Continued accreditation and a January 2027 start date. The program accepts both out-of-state and international applicants, operates on a rolling admissions basis with an application deadline of August 1, 2026, and does not offer part-time or distance learning options.
The program's mission centers on producing competent, compassionate physician assistant leaders committed to servant leadership, lifelong learning, and medical service within their communities. Its location in an Appalachian setting is deliberate - the curriculum emphasizes rural and underserved care, primary care, and community health, making it a particularly strong fit for applicants who intend to practice in medically underserved or rural environments. Training is enriched by interprofessional collaboration, early and diverse clinical rotations, and hands-on skills work. Cohort sizes are capped at approximately 30 students, which supports accessible faculty relationships and a more individualized learning environment. The curriculum follows an organ-based and systems-based framework.
The academic bar is approachable but meaningful. The minimum GPA across overall, science, and prerequisite coursework is 3.0, while matriculants typically arrive with a 3.6 overall and a 3.44 science GPA. All prerequisite coursework must have been completed within the last 10 years, and required courses include general chemistry with lab, human anatomy with lab, human physiology with lab, microbiology with lab, general biology, and statistics. The direct patient care requirement stands at 500 hours, which is relatively accessible compared to many programs. Paid patient care experience is recommended but not required, and some form of broader healthcare experience is required. Three letters of reference are mandatory.
Total tuition is listed at $87,503 with no separate in-state or out-of-state rate distinction, and the seat deposit is $500. Applicants who advance in the process should expect a required onsite interview that includes both panel and group interview formats.
An applicant should assess fit primarily around their genuine interest in rural, underserved, and Appalachian community health, as the program's identity and training environment are built around that specific clinical context rather than a generalist urban or academic medical setting.