About the program
The Wichita State University 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: "Transform students into highly competent physician assistants"
The Physician Associate (PA) program at Wichita State is the first and longest-running PA program in Kansas and one of the first in the nation. With a combined 130 years clinical experience and 75 years teaching experience, we are dedicated to the success of our students, and we consider every student a future colleague.
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
Wichita State University offers a 26-month Master of Physician Assistant program based in Wichita, Kansas, carrying ARC-PA Continued accreditation. The program awards an MPA degree rather than a public health credential, and it admits one cohort of approximately 48 students each cycle, with the next class scheduled to begin June 2027. Applications are reviewed after the September 1, 2026 deadline passes, meaning all files are considered together rather than on a rolling basis, so submitting early does not confer a competitive advantage beyond meeting the cutoff.
The admissions bar sets minimum GPAs of 3.0 across overall, science, and prerequisite coursework, though matriculants typically arrive with a 3.7 in both categories - a meaningful gap that signals meaningful competition. Paid direct patient care is recommended but not required, and healthcare experience carries no formal requirement at all, which may make this program accessible to career changers or recent graduates still building clinical hours. Prerequisite coursework must have been completed within the past ten years and includes general chemistry with lab, general biology, human anatomy with lab at a substantial eight credits, human physiology, microbiology with lab, and statistics.
The curriculum blends case-based learning, team-based learning, and organ or systems-based instruction, reflecting a practical, integrated approach to clinical preparation. The program's stated mission is straightforward: transform students into highly competent physician assistants. Faculty bring a combined 130 years of clinical experience and 75 years of teaching experience, and the program describes its student relationships as collegial rather than hierarchical.
Out-of-state and international applicants are accepted, though separate tuition rates apply, so cost calculations will differ depending on residency status. The seat deposit is $1,000. The program does not offer distance learning or part-time enrollment options, requiring full-time, on-site commitment throughout the 26 months. Candidates who advance will complete a traditional in-person interview, and attendance at that interview is required.
An applicant should assess fit here primarily by whether their GPA is competitive at or near 3.7, whether they are comfortable with a non-rolling review process, and whether they can manage the full-time on-site commitment and, if applicable, the out-of-state tuition differential.