About the program
The University of Washington 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: "MEDEX Northwest is dedicated to expanding healthcare access by educating qualified individuals across the WWAMI region and Hawaiʻi through a primary care-focused curriculum. We graduate competent and compassionate PAs who are committed to serving and advocating for medically underserved and rural communities."
Established in 1969, MEDEX NW is the second oldest PA program, and is currently the largest civilian PA program in the U.S. It has 5 campuses located in 3 states (WA, AK, HI); the AK campus is the only PA program in the state of Alaska, and the HI campus is the only PA program on Hawaii island.
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. On-campus housing is available. Veteran support programs are available; consult the program directly for details.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 7 Years
Program overview
The University of Washington MEDEX Northwest program is a 27-month, full-time program leading to a Master of Clinical Health Services degree. It operates across five campuses in three states - Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii - making it one of the more geographically distinctive programs in the country. The Alaska campus is the only PA program in that state, and the Hawaii campus is the only one on Hawaii island, which has direct implications for the program's mission: preparing PAs to work in primary care, rural settings, and medically underserved communities across the WWAMI region and Hawaii. Applicants who are drawn to urban academic medicine or specialty-focused training will likely find a stronger fit elsewhere; this program is built for those who see themselves practicing in settings where access to care is a genuine challenge.
The curriculum follows an organ-based and systems-based structure over the 27-month timeline, with the cohort beginning in June 2027. The incoming class is large at 162 students, reflecting the program's scale as the largest civilian PA program in the United States. Rolling admissions means early submission matters - the application deadline is October 1, 2026, but waiting until close to that date carries real risk of reduced competitiveness.
Academically, the program requires a minimum overall GPA of 3.00 and a prerequisite GPA of at least 3.20, though matriculants typically come in with a 3.6 overall and 3.4 science GPA, so those minimums represent a floor rather than a competitive target. Required prerequisites include human anatomy (3 credits), human physiology (3 credits), microbiology (3 credits), and statistics (3 credits), all completed within the past seven years. Paid direct patient care experience is required, with a minimum of 2,000 hours, and healthcare experience beyond that is also required. This is a meaningful bar - the emphasis on paid hours signals that the program is looking for applicants with substantive, compensated clinical roles rather than volunteer shadowing.
Total tuition is $111,683 with no separate in-state or out-of-state rate, and out-of-state applicants are accepted. International applicants are not. The seat deposit is $500. The program does not offer distance learning or part-time enrollment options.
The application requires a minimum of three letters of reference. Interviews are conducted onsite and use both group interview and Multiple Mini Interview formats, so applicants should prepare for a structured, multi-station assessment rather than a traditional one-on-one conversation.
It is worth noting that the program is currently on ARC-PA probationary accreditation status, which applicants should research carefully and factor seriously into their decision-making, including how it may affect eligibility for certain certification pathways or future credentialing.
An applicant should pursue MEDEX Northwest if they have strong rural or underserved-community career intentions, meet the paid patient-care requirement comfortably, and have done specific research into the implications of the current probationary accreditation status.