Arizona School of Health Sciences PA Program: Requirements, Tuition & Stats

• Middle-of-the-pack GPA — The average accepted overall GPA (3.6) is close to the national middle, so a solid-but-not-spectacular academic record is genuinely competitive here.

• The minimum is not the target — The stated minimum GPA is 3, but the average accepted is 3.6 — a gap of 0.60. Meeting the floor gets you screened in, not admitted.

• Experience-heavy — A 1,000-hour patient care minimum is at or above the national 75th percentile. Plan on a year or more of full-time work before you apply.

• Faster to practice — At 24 months, this program is shorter than most. That means less tuition and earlier income, but a denser schedule with little slack.

• Large cohort — A class of 90 is among the biggest in the country. More seats improves your odds, and the alumni network is larger, but you will need to be proactive about mentorship.

• Higher cost — In-state tuition of $121,133 is in the most expensive quarter nationally. Worth weighing against your expected starting salary and loan burden.

• No extra standardized testing — No GRE, PA-CAT, or CASPer required — one less hurdle if standardized tests are not your strength.

• Apply early — Admissions are rolling, so seats come off the board as the cycle goes. An application submitted in the first few weeks is worth more than the same application submitted in month four.

Arizona School of Health Sciences is located in California. The details below come straight from the program and are re-checked on a rolling basis.

At a glance

• Location: California

• Institution type: Private

• Program length: 24 months

• Class size: 90 students

• Start month: July

• Application deadline: October

• Rolling admissions: Yes

• In-state tuition: $121,133

• Out-of-state tuition: $157,530

• Average overall GPA: 3.6

• Average science GPA: 3.55

• Minimum overall GPA: 3

• Minimum science GPA: 3

• Minimum PCE hours: 1,000 hours

• Letters of recommendation: 3

• First-time PANCE pass rate: 92%

• Accreditation status: Continued

Admission requirements

• GRE: No

• PA-CAT: No

• CASPer: No

• TOEFL (international applicants): Yes

• Supplemental application: Yes (fee $70)

• Shadowing: No

• Letters of recommendation: 3 — Employers, supervisors, medical providers, or academic instructors/professors

• Patient care experience: 1,000 hours minimum

• Interview format: MMI

Prerequisites

• Minimum prerequisite grade: C

• Prerequisite expiration: 7 years

• In-progress prerequisites accepted: Yes

• AP or CLEP credit accepted: No

• Online coursework accepted: Yes

Required coursework

• Human anatomy — 4 semester credits/6 quarter credits (Must include in-person lab)

• Human physiology — 4 semester credits/6 quarter credits (Must include in-person lab)

• Microbiology — 4 semester credits/6 quarter credits (Must include in-person lab)

• General chemistry I and II — 8 semester credits/12 quarter credits (Must include in-person lab, Must complete full sequence)

• Biochemistry or organic chemistry — 3 semester credits/4 quarter credits (Lab not required)

• College statistics — 3 semester credits/4 quarter credits (Biostatistics or psychology statistics accepted)

• Medical terminology — 1 semester credit/1 quarter credit

Cost

• In-state tuition: $121,133

• Out-of-state tuition: $157,530

• Supplemental application fee: $70

• Seat deposit: $750

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• Program website: Arizona School of Health Sciences

• Admissions page: Admissions information

• Prerequisite details: Prerequisite coursework

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: 660.626.2237

• Address: 1075 E. Betteravia Rd., Ste. 201, Santa Maria, CA 93454

Program information last verified July 14, 2026. Requirements change — always confirm directly with the program before applying.