PA Schools Acceptance Rates in the USA – List and Main Stats

Trends in Average PA Acceptance Rates Over the Last 5 Years

The average PA school acceptance rate has been 38.8% over the past five years.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of each cycle, as reported in the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) End-of-Cycle Reports:

This means that, on average, about 2 in every 5 applicants matriculate into PA school each cycle.

How to Use Acceptance Rate Data to Choose PA Schools

Acceptance rates help you gauge a PA program’s competitiveness, but they should never be your only filter. A 3% acceptance rate does not automatically mean a better education than a 20% rate. Use acceptance rates to build a balanced school list.

Start by comparing a program's acceptance rate to your own profile. If your GPA, patient care hours, and overall experience align with a program's average admitted student stats, that school is a reasonable target even if the rate looks intimidating. Then build your list in tiers:

• Reach schools: Programs where your stats fall below the admitted student averages or the acceptance rate is very low. Apply to two or three at most. Stacking your entire list with reach schools is a high-risk strategy that leaves you vulnerable to a full rejection cycle.
• Target schools: Programs where your GPA, healthcare experience, and overall profile match the typical admitted student. These should make up the core of your list because you have a realistic shot at earning an interview.
• Safe schools: Programs where your stats sit above the admitted student averages will be easier to get into. A higher acceptance rate does not mean lower quality. Several programs with rates above 15% post-PANCE pass rates above 95%.

Apply to programs from all three tiers so your list isn’t overly risky or overly conservative. 

How Competitive Are PA School Admissions?

PA school admissions are quite competitive. The national average acceptance rate sits around 38%, but that number is misleading because it blends every program together. The most sought-after schools operate in a completely different tier:

• Ultra-selective: Acceptance rates below 3.0%, like the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program (1.2% to 1.5%)
• Highly competitive: Acceptance rates from 3.0% to 10.0%, like the George Washington University Physician Assistant Program (6.0%)
• Competitive: Acceptance rates from 10.0% to 20.0%, like the University of Nebraska Medical Center Physician Assistant Program (13.9%)
• Moderately competitive: Acceptance rates from 20.0% to 31.0%, like Seton Hall University Master of Science in Physician Assistant (20.0% to 31.0%)
• Accessible: Acceptance rates above 40.0%, like the Missouri State University Physician Assistant School (around 52.0%)

Applicant volume has also grown steadily while seat counts have increased more slowly. The 2024 to 2025 cycle saw over 34,600 applicants competing for roughly 13,200 seats.

How Do You Increase Your Acceptance Chances and Get Into PA School?

You can increase your chances of getting into PA school by building strong clinical hours and crafting a strategic CASPA application.

Here’s a closer look at each of these strategies:

Prioritize High-Yield Clinical and Shadowing Hours

Programs distinguish between Direct Patient Care Experience (PCE) and general Healthcare Experience (HCE), and PCE matters far more:

• Strong PCE roles (highest value): These roles involve hands-on patient assessment, vitals, triage, or procedures under supervision. Examples include being a medical assistant, EMT, paramedic, or CNA. Plan your application timeline to ensure you have significant PCE before applying. 
• Moderate HCE roles (supporting value): You interact with patients or clinical data, but you are not performing direct care, like being a scribe or patient transporter.
• Low-yield roles (limited value): No patient contact, like a front desk receptionist.

PAEA data from 2021 shows the median admitted student logged 2,928 PCE hours, with top quartile applicants exceeding 4,000. You can expect these benchmarks to be higher now as competition has increased.

Source: PAEA Research

In our PA webinar, Madison Borgman, a former interview co-chair at the UT Southwestern PA program and current admissions counselor at Inspira Advantage, calls PA-specific shadowing one of the most vital parts of your application because programs need proof you understand the PA role.

The median shadowing hours for admitted students in 2021 sat around 120 hours, and the 75th-percentile admits had 179 hours. Aim for 180+ to be competitive. 

Maximize Every Character in Your CASPA Experience Section

Treat every text box in CASPA as a mini-essay, not a job description. Connect each experience and extracurricular activity back to a clear motivation for becoming a PA. 

Fill entries across every category, including non-healthcare employment, leadership, teaching, volunteer work, and research. Borgman advises you to use every single character CASPA gives you. Leaving description boxes half-empty is a missed opportunity to differentiate yourself from applicants with similar stats.

The difference between a forgettable entry and a compelling one comes down to specificity:

• Weak: "Assisted physicians with patient intake, recorded vitals, and prepared exam rooms."
• Strong: "Recorded vitals for 25+ patients daily in a high-volume urgent care clinic. During one shift, I identified an abnormal blood pressure reading that led the supervising PA to order additional testing, catching early-stage hypertension. Moments like these confirmed my desire to practice as a PA where I can act on clinical findings and directly impact patient outcomes."

The first version describes tasks. The second version tells a story that demonstrates clinical awareness, initiative, and a clear connection to the PA role. Even non-clinical roles add value when framed correctly. A restaurant management role can highlight leadership under pressure and team coordination, both skills that translate directly to clinical settings.

Secure your spot in a competitive PA program with expert help. Learn where your application is most competitive, how to build the strongest possible application, and how to present your strengths in a way that resonates with admissions committees.

FAQs: PA Schools Acceptance Rates in the US

How Many PA Schools Should You Apply To?

Apply to 8 to 12 PA schools to give yourself the best chance of earning multiple interviews. Build your list with 2 to 3 reach programs, 4 to 6 target programs where your stats align with admitted student averages, and 2 to 3 likely programs where your profile exceeds the benchmarks. 

Applying to fewer than 6 schools is risky, given that many top programs accept less than 5% of applicants. Applying to more than 15 creates diminishing returns because each CASPA application requires program-specific supplemental work that suffers in quality when you spread yourself too thin.

Do All PA Schools Require Patient Care Experience (PCE)?

Most PA schools require Direct Patient Care Experience, but minimum hour requirements vary significantly by program. 

Some schools require as few as 500 hours while others expect 2,000 or more. PAEA data shows the median admitted student logs around 2,900 PCE hours, so even programs with low minimums admit classes well above that threshold. Ensure you factor these benchmarks into your application timeline.

A small number of programs accept students with no PCE, but these are exceptions and typically prioritize applicants who demonstrate clinical exposure through other means, like shadowing or healthcare volunteering. Check each program's specific requirements in your tracking spreadsheet rather than assuming a universal standard.

Is a GRE Score Important to Get Into PA Schools?

The GRE is not important for the vast majority of PA school applications. Most programs on our top 50 list do not require it, and the trend over the past several years has moved strongly toward eliminating the requirement altogether. 

What Is the Average Acceptance Rate for PA Schools in California?

California PA schools are among the most competitive in the country, with most programs accepting fewer than 5% of applicants:

• Stanford Medicine Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies admits under 2% of applicants
• Touro University California Joint MSPAS/MPH Program sits below 5%
• The University of Southern California Primary Care Physician Assistant Program accepts fewer than 5%

California's large applicant pool and limited number of accredited programs drive these rates well below the national average of 38%. If you are targeting California schools specifically, treat every one as a reach and balance your list with out-of-state programs to avoid a full rejection cycle.

Dr. Jonathan Preminger was the original author of this article. Snippets of his work may remain.