Contents

Full List of PA Schools That Don’t Require the GRE

5 Tips to Get Into PA School Without Taking the GRE

The GRE is one of the most common reasons PA applicants delay their application by an entire cycle. But many are delaying unnecessarily. I've watched students spend four months studying for a test that half of their target programs don't even require.

A growing number of accredited programs have dropped the GRE requirement entirely or made it optional as part of holistic admissions. Programs that eliminate the GRE typically place greater weight on your science GPA, patient contact hours, and personal statement quality. Your application still needs to be competitive with other applications because removing the GRE raises the bar on everything else.

I've spoken with our top PA counselors about what students applying to PA school without the GRE need to focus on to build the strongest possible application.

Privacy guaranteed. No spam, ever.

Full List of PA Schools That Don’t Require the GRE

The table below features all PA programs in the USA that don’t require the GRE for admission.

Program Name	GRE Required?	Other Test(s) Required	Minimum Overall GPA Required	Number of Rec Letters Required
A.T. Still University of Health Sciences (Central Coast)	No	None	3.00	2
AdventHealth University	No	Casper	3.00	3
Agnes Scott College	No	None	3.00	3
Albany Medical College	No	None	N/A	3
Arcadia University	No	None	3.00	3
Arcadia University – Delaware Campus	No	None	3.00	3
Arcadia University – Dual Degree: MPH/MMS	No	None	3.00	3
Arizona School of Health Sciences	No	None	3.00	3
Assumption University	No	None	3.00	3
Augsburg University	No	None	3.00	3
Austin College	No	None	3.00	3
Baldwin Wallace University	No	None	3.50	3
Barry University	No	PA-CAT	3.00	3
Barry University – St. Petersburg	No	PA-CAT	3.00	3
Bay Path University	No	None	3.00	3
Baylor College of Medicine	No	None	3.20	3
Berry College	No	None	3.00	3
Bethel University (MN)	No	None	3.25	2
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine	No	Casper; Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)	N/A	3
Brescia University Physician Assistant Program	No	None	3.00	3
Bryant University	No	None	3.00	3
Butler University	No	None	3.20	3
California Baptist University	No	None	3.20	3
Canisius University	No	None	N/A	3
Carlow University	No	None	3.30	3
Carroll University	No	None	3.00	3
Case Western Reserve University	No	TOEFL	3.00	3
Cedarville University	No	None	3.00	3
Central Michigan University	No	None	3.00	3
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science	No	None	3.00	3
Charleston Southern University	No	None	3.00	2
Chatham University	No	None	3.30	3
Clarkson University	No	None	3.00	3
College of Saint Mary	No	None	3.00	3
College of St. Scholastica	No	None	3.00	2
Colorado Mesa University	No	Casper	3.00	3
Commonwealth University Physician Assistant Program	No	None	3.00	3
Concordia University, St. Paul	No	None	3.00	2
Concordia University-Ann Arbor	No	None	3.00	3
Creighton University – Omaha	No	None	3.00	3
Creighton University – Phoenix	No	None	3.00	3
D'Youville University	No	None	3.00	3
Daemen University	No	TOEFL	3.00	3
Delaware Valley University	No	None	N/A	3
Des Moines University	No	None	2.80	2
DeSales University	Will accept the MCAT instead of the GRE	PA-CAT; TOEFL	3.00	3
Dominican University	No	None	3.00	3
Dominican University of California	No	None	3.00	3
Drexel University	No	None	3.00	2
Drury University	No	None	3.00	3
East Carolina University	No	None	3.00	3
ECPI University PA Program	No	None	3.00	3
Elon University	No	None	N/A	3
Elon-Charlotte Physician Assistant Program	No	None	N/A	3
Emory University	No	None	3.00	2
Endicott College	No	TOEFL	3.00	3
Fairleigh Dickinson University	No	None	3.20	3
Faulkner University	No	None	3.00	3
Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine	No	None	3.00	3
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University(Our Lady of the Lake College)	No	Casper	3.00	3
Franklin College	No	None	3.00	3
Franklin Pierce University	No	None	3.00	3
Franklin Pierce University (Goodyear)	No	None	3.00	3
Franklin Pierce University – Texas	No	None	3.00	3
Frostburg State University	No	None	3.00	2
Gannon University-Ruskin	No	Casper	3.00	3
Gardner-Webb University	No	None	3.20	3
George Fox University	No	None	3.00	3
George Washington University	No	None	3.20	3
Grand Valley State University	No	Casper	3.00	2
Hardin-Simmons University	No	None	3.00	3
Harding University	No	None	N/A	3
Hawai`i Pacific University	No	None	3.00	2
Hofstra University	No	None	3.30	2
Howard University	No	None	3.00	3
Indiana State University	No	None	3.00	3
Indiana University	No	None	3.20	2
Ithaca College	No	None	3.00	3
Johnson & Wales University	No	None	3.20	3
Johnson & Wales University – MPH/PA Program	No	None	3.20	3
Kansas State University	No	None	3.00	3
Keck Graduate Institute	No	None	3.00	3
King's College	No	None	3.20	2
Lake Erie College	No	None	3.00	3
Larkin University	No	None	2.90	3
Le Moyne College	No	None	3.20	3
Lenoir-Rhyne University	No	None	3.00	3
Lincoln Memorial University – Harrogate	No	None	2.80	3
Lincoln Memorial University – Tampa	No	None	2.80	2
Lincoln Memorial University- Chattanooga	No	None	3.00	2
Lipscomb University	No	None	3.00	3
Loma Linda University	No	None	3.00	3
Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University	No	None	3.20	2
Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University – Early Assurance	No	Casper	3.25	2
Marietta College	Will accept the MCAT instead of the GRE	None	3.00	3
Marist University	No	None	3.00	3
Marquette University	No	None	3.00	3
Marshall B. Ketchum University	No	None	N/A	3
Marshall University	Will accept the MCAT instead of the GRE	Casper	3.00	3
Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences	No	None	3.50	3
MCPHS University (Boston)	No	None	3.00	3
MCPHS University (Manchester/Worcester)	No	None	3.00	3
Medical University of South Carolina	No	None	3.00	3
Meharry Medical College	No	None	N/A	3
Mercer University	No	Casper	3.00	3
Mercy University	No	None	3.00	3
Mercyhurst University	No	None	3.20	3
Methodist University	No	None	3.00	3
MGH Institute of Health Professions	No	None	3.00	3
Miami-Dade College	No	PA-CAT	3.00	3
Michigan State University	No	None	N/A	3
Middle Tennessee State University	No	None	3.00	3
Midwestern University (Downers Grove)	No	Casper	3.00	2
Midwestern University (Glendale)	No	None	3.00	2
Misericordia University	No	None	3.20	2
Missouri State University (formerly SWMS)	Will accept the MCAT instead of the GRE	PA-CAT (recommended)	3.00	3
Mount St Mary's University	No	None	3.00	2
Mount St. Joseph University	No	None	3.00	3
Nazareth University	No	None	3.20	2
New York Institute of Technology	No	None	3.00	3
North Central College	No	None	3.00	3
North Greenville University	No	None	3.30	3
Northeastern State University	No	None	3.00	3
Northeastern University	No	None	3.00	3
Northern Arizona University	No	None	3.00	3
Northwest University	No	None	3.00	3
Northwestern College	No	None	3.30	3
Northwestern University	No	None	3.30	3
Notre Dame of Maryland University	No	None	3.00	3
Oakland University	No	Casper	3.00	2
Ohio Dominican University	Will accept the MCAT instead of the GRE	None	3.00	2
Oklahoma Baptist University	No	None	3.25	2
Oklahoma City University	No	None	3.00	3
Oklahoma State University	No	None	3.00	3
Oregon Health & Science University	No	None	3.00	3
Ottawa University	No	None	N/A	3
Pace University – Pleasantville	No	None	3.00	3
Pace University-Lenox Hill Hospital, NYC	No	None	3.00	3
Pacific University	No	None	N/A	2
Penn State University	Will accept the MCAT instead of the GRE	None	3.00	3
Pennsylvania College of Technology	No	None	3.00	2
Pepperdine University	No	Casper	3.00	3
Pfeiffer University	No	None	3.00	3
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine	No	None	3.00	3
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine – Georgia Campus	No	None	3.00	3
Point Loma Nazarene University	No	None	3.00	3
Quinnipiac University	No	None	3.20	3
Radford University	No	None	3.00	3
Red Rocks Community College	No	None	N/A	3
Rocky Mountain College	No	None	3.00	3
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions	No	None	3.20	3
Rocky Vista University	No	None	3.00	3
Rosalind Franklin University	No	None	2.75	2
Rowan-Virtua PA Program	No	None	3.00	3
Rush University	No	None	3.00	3
Rutgers University	No	None	3.20	3
Sacred Heart University	No	None	3.00	3
Saint Catherine University	No	None	3.20	2
Saint Francis University	No	None	3.20	3
Saint Joseph's University	No	None	3.20	3
Saint Louis University	No	None	3.00	3
Salus at Drexel University PA Program	No	None	3.00	3
Samuel Merritt University	No	PA-CAT; Casper	3.00	3
Seton Hill University	No	None	3.20	2
Shenandoah University	No	None	3.20	3
Slippery Rock University	No	None	3.25	3
Southern California University of Health Sciences	No	None	3.00	3
Southern Illinois University	No	None	3.40	3
Southwestern College Physician Associate Program	No	None	3.00	2
St. Ambrose University	No	None	3.00	3
St. John's University (formerly SVCMC)	No	None	3.00	3
Stanford University	No	None	N/A	2
Stephens College	No	None	3.00	3
Stony Brook University	No	None	3.00	3
Sullivan University	No	None	3.00	3
SUNY Upstate Medical Center	No	None	N/A	3
Tarleton State University	No	None	3.00	2
Taylor University	No	None	3.20	3
Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine	No	None	3.00	3
Texas Christian University Physician Associate Studies	No	None	3.00	3
The CUNY School of Medicine	No	None	3.00	3
Thomas Jefferson University – New Jersey Campus	No	None	3.25	2
Thomas Jefferson University, Center City Campus	No	None	3.25	2
Thomas Jefferson University, East Falls Campus	No	None	3.25	2
Touro University (Long Island)	No	None	3.00	3
Touro University (Manhattan)	No	None	3.00	3
Touro University (Middletown)	No	None	3.00	3
Touro University California Dual MSPAS/MPH Program	No	None	3.00	3
Touro University California, Los Angeles	No	None	3.00	3
Touro University Illinois	No	None	3.00	3
Touro University Nevada	No	None	3.00	2
Towson University	No	None	N/A	2
Trevecca Nazarene University	No	None	3.25	3
Tufts University	No	None	N/A	3
Union Adventist University	No	None	3.00	3
University of Arizona	No	None	N/A	3
University of Arkansas	No	None	3.00	3
University of Bridgeport	No	None	3.00	3
University of California – San Diego	No	None	3.00	3
University of California-Davis	No	None	3.00	3
University of Colorado	No	None	3.00	3
University of Dayton	No	None	3.00	3
University of Dubuque	No	None	3.00	3
University of Evansville	No	None	3.00	3
University of Findlay	No	None	3.00	3
University of Iowa	No	None	3.00	3
University of Kentucky	No	None	2.75	3
University of Kentucky – Morehead	No	None	2.75	3
University of Lynchburg	Will accept the MCAT instead of the GRE	None	3.00	3
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor	No	None	3.00	3
University of Maryland Baltimore	No	TOEFL	3.00	3
University of Maryland Eastern Shore	No	None	3.00	3
University of Michigan – Flint	No	Casper	3.00	3
University of Missouri – Kansas City	No	None	3.00	3
University of Montana	No	None	3.00	3
University of Mount Saint Vincent	No	None	3.00	3
University of Nebraska Medical Center	No	None	3.00	3
University of Nevada, Reno	No	None	2.75	3
University of New England	No	None	3.00	3
University of New Mexico	No	None	3.00	3
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill	No	None	3.00	3
University of North Dakota	No	None	3.00	2
University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City	No	None	3.00	3
University of Oklahoma, Tulsa	No	None	3.00	3
University of Pittsburgh	No	None	3.00	3
University of Pittsburgh – Hybrid Program	No	None	3.00	3
University of Saint Francis (Fort Wayne)	No	None	3.00	3
University of Saint Joseph	No	None	3.00	3
University of South Dakota	No	None	3.00	3
University of Southern California (LA)	No	None	N/A	2
University of Tampa	No	Casper	3.00	3
University of Tennessee Health Science Center (Memphis)	No	PA-CAT	3.00	3
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	No	None	3.00	3
University of Texas – Medical Branch at Galveston	No	None	3.00	3
University of the Cumberlands	No	None	3.00	3
University of the Cumberlands, Northern Kentucky Campus	No	None	3.00	3
University of the Pacific	No	None	3.00	2
University of Toledo	No	None	3.20	3
University of Utah	No	None	3.00	3
University of Washington	No	None	3.00	3
University of Wisconsin – La Crosse	No	Casper	3.00	3
University of Wisconsin – Madison	No	None	3.20	3
Ursuline College	No	None	3.00	3
Utah Valley University	No	None	3.00	3
Weber State University	No	PA-CAT	3.00	3
Weill Cornell Medicine Master of Science in Health Sciences for Physician Assistants Program	No	None	3.00	2
West Chester University	No	None	3.00	3
West Coast University – California	No	None	3.00	3
West Coast University – Texas	No	Casper	3.00	3
West Liberty University	No	None	3.00	3
Western Michigan University	No	None	N/A	3
Western University of Health Sciences	No	None	3.00	2
Westfield State University	No	None	3.00	3
Wichita State University	No	None	3.00	3
Widener University	No	None	3.00	3
Xavier University of Louisiana	Will accept the MCAT instead of the GRE	PA-CAT; Casper; TOEFL	3.00	3
Yeshiva University	No	None	3.00	3
York College, CUNY	No	None	3.00	3

We used the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) Program Directory to find these programs.

Find out your chances of getting into PA school in five minutes or less with our free tool.

Privacy guaranteed. No spam, ever.

Tips to Get Into PA School Without Taking the GRE

Take Specific Courses During Your Bachelor’s Degree

Becoming a PA starts with earning a bachelor’s degree. However, PA programs that drop the GRE requirement don't lower their academic standards. They shift the weight to your transcript instead. Programs want to see strong performance in upper-level sciences because those courses reflect the rigor of PA didactic training.

Focus your energy on:

Anatomy
Physiology
Microbiology
Biochemistry
Genetics

Earning As in introductory biology matters less than pulling a B+ or higher in courses like pathophysiology or immunology. Admissions committees at PA programs that don’t require the GRE pay closer attention to your science GPA than your cumulative GPA because it predicts how you'll handle the clinical curriculum.

In our PA application tips webinar, Faith Huynh, a graduate of the Yale School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program and expert advisor at Inspira Advantage, shares her advice on not taking the GRE:

"If you apply for a school where the GRE isn't required ... how would your application be assessed next to someone who does have a GRE?” she says. “My understanding is it would not be hard ... if they don't require it, it tends to be that they haven't found it to be a useful indicator of success".

Take statistics or biostatistics if your program requires it. Many applicants overlook quantitative coursework and scramble to complete it post-graduation. Completing it during undergrad shows planning and keeps your application timeline on track.

Write a Strong PA Personal Statement That Shows Clinical Maturity

Your PA personal statement carries more weight than any other PA requirement at PA programs that don’t require the GRE. Admissions readers will lean harder on your narrative to gauge your readiness for the profession.

I've reviewed PA personal statements with our advising team for years, and the same mistake shows up in roughly 8 out of 10 first drafts: The applicant spends 600 words narrating their journey from "I've always wanted to help people" to "that's why I want to be a PA."

Admissions readers at GRE-optional programs will scrutinize your personal statement precisely because they don't have a standardized test score to differentiate candidates with similar GPAs. A generic motivation story gives them nothing to work with.

The essays that actually make a difference describe a specific clinical moment where the applicant's understanding of the PA role changed. Not why they chose PA school in general, but why they chose this profession after seeing it first-hand.

So skip the origin story about wanting to help people. Every applicant writes that version. Instead, anchor your essay around a specific clinical moment that shifted how you understand the PA role. Describe what you observed, what confused or challenged you about it, and how that experience shaped your approach to patient care.

Strong personal statements read like a window into your clinical thinking rather than a timeline of your resume. Admissions committees already have your experience list in CASPA. Use the essay to show them how you process clinical situations and what kind of provider you'll become.

Find a Mentor Who Has Navigated the PA Admissions Process

A mentor who has already earned a seat in a PA program can shortcut months of guesswork. Advice from someone who recently completed the application cycle carries more value than generalized guidance.

Look for mentors among PA students, recent graduates, or practicing PAs at your clinical sites. Ask them which parts of the application tripped them up, how they selected programs, and what they’d do differently. Their answers will surface gaps you won't find in admissions FAQs.

Build these relationships early. Shadow PAs in specialties that interest you and ask thoughtful questions about their training. Mentors invest more in applicants who demonstrate curiosity and initiative than in those who reach out only when they need a letter of recommendation.

Find the right path to PA school with tailored advice. Inspira Advantage PA counselors can help you apply to programs that don’t require the GRE, learn how to strengthen your application, and stand out to admissions committees.

Take a look at the video below for more advice on everything you need to know about PA school and what to look for in a good counselor:

Earn Patient Contact Hours That Demonstrate Your Clinical Range

Programs without a GRE requirement place heavy emphasis on your healthcare experience because hands-on hours become a primary differentiator between applicants with similar GPAs. Volume alone won't set you apart. Clinical diversity will.

Combine direct patient care roles across different settings. Working as an EMT gives you exposure to acute care, but pairing that with a medical assistant role in a primary care clinic demonstrates that you understand both emergency and longitudinal patient management. Programs want applicants who have seen healthcare from multiple angles.

In our PA application process webinar, Taylor Hayes, a physician assistant, assistant professor at Emory University School of Medicine, and expert counselor at Inspira Advantage, advises students on what to focus on instead of the GRE:

"A lot of schools are starting to look less at standardized tests and look more at your soft skills, your personality, and your ability to think on the fly,” he says.

Showing these skills through patient contact hours is one of the best ways to increase your competitiveness. Log your hours meticulously in CASPA and track the types of patients you encountered, procedures you observed, and clinical skills you developed. Specificity in your experience descriptions signals that you paid attention during your hours rather than just clocking time.

Prepare for Interviews That Will Ask Deeper Questions Without a GRE Score

PA programs that waive the GRE rely more heavily on the interview to assess your critical thinking and communication skills. Expect interviewers to dig into your clinical experiences with follow-up questions designed to test how you process information under pressure.

Practice answering behavioral questions, but avoid sounding rehearsed. Interviewers want to hear you think through a clinical scenario in real time rather than recite a script. When they ask about a challenging patient interaction, walk them through your decision-making process step by step instead of jumping straight to the outcome.

Research each program's interview format before your scheduled date. Some programs use traditional one-on-one interviews. Others run MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) stations that rotate you through timed ethical scenarios and teamwork exercises. Showing up prepared for the wrong format puts you at an immediate disadvantage.

Prepare three specific clinical stories you can adapt to different question types. A strong story about navigating a difficult patient encounter can answer questions about teamwork, communication, conflict resolution, and clinical judgment, depending on how you frame it. Versatile stories prevent you from scrambling for examples mid-interview and let you showcase depth rather than breadth in your responses.

If you need more advice on preparing for your PA interview, check out the video below:

Privacy guaranteed. No spam, ever.

FAQs

Are No-GRE PA Schools More Competitive?

No-GRE PA schools are sometimes more competitive because they can attract a larger applicant pool. Removing the GRE eliminates a barrier that filters out a significant number of candidates, which means more applications per available seat. Programs compensate by scrutinizing your GPA, clinical hours, and personal statement more closely. Strong performance in upper-level science courses and diverse patient care experience become critical differentiators when test scores no longer separate you from other applicants.

What Are the Easiest PA Schools to Get Into Without the GRE?

The easiest PA schools to get into without the GRE are Lipscomb University, Miami Dade College, and AdventHealth University. Mercer University, Seton Hill University, Saint Louis University, and Barry University are also relatively easy PA programs to get into without a GRE requirement.

Do Online PA Programs Require the GRE?

Online PA programs vary in whether they require the GRE, just like their on-campus counterparts. Some hybrid and remote programs have dropped the requirement, such as Pace University’s Physician Assistant Online Completion Program, while others still mandate it. Verify GRE policies directly with each program since online and hybrid formats are relatively new and their admissions requirements change frequently.

Privacy guaranteed. No spam, ever.