California Baptist University PA Program: Requirements, Tuition & Stats

• Middle-of-the-pack GPA: The average accepted overall GPA (3.74) 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 3.2, but the average accepted is 3.74, a gap of 0.54. 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.

• Higher cost: In-state tuition of $123,660 is in the most expensive quarter nationally. Worth weighing against your expected starting salary and loan burden.

• Strong PANCE outcomes: A first-time PANCE pass rate of 100% is above the national average.

• Stricter prerequisite grades: A minimum of B- in prerequisites is tougher than the typical C. Recheck your transcript before you invest in the application.

• Recency matters: Prerequisites expire after 5 years (recommended). Older science coursework may need to be retaken.

California Baptist University 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: 30 students

• Start month: September

• Application deadline: January

• In-state tuition: $123,660

• Average overall GPA: 3.74

• Average science GPA: 3.66

• Minimum overall GPA: 3.2

• Minimum science GPA: 3

• Minimum PCE hours: 1,000 hours

• Letters of recommendation: 3

• First-time PANCE pass rate: 100%

• Accreditation status: Continued

Admission requirements

• GRE: Yes

• PA-CAT: No

• CASPer: No

• TOEFL (international applicants): Yes

• Supplemental application: Yes

• Shadowing: Recommended

• Letters of recommendation: 3: Professor OR PA OR Physician (MD/DO) OR Supervisor OR Clergy*

• Patient care experience: 1,000 hours minimum

• Interview format: Selected applicants will attend and participate in the interview process. This will be an all-day activity which includes a face-to-face interview, screening tests in basic math and English composition (70% passing score required for both).

Prerequisites

• Minimum prerequisite grade: B-

• Prerequisite expiration: 5 years (recommended)

• In-progress prerequisites accepted: Yes

• AP or CLEP credit accepted: Yes

• Pass/Fail coursework accepted: No

• Online coursework accepted: No

Required coursework

• 1. Human Anatomy & Physiology with Lab (I & II); OR a combination of courses covering all human systems, 8 units (1 year)

• 2. General Chemistry with Lab (I & II), 8 units (1 year); OR a combination of three separate courses in Organic, Inorganic, Biochemistry, 12 units

• 3. Microbiology with Lab, 3–4 units

• 4. Genetics, 2–3 units

• 5. Psychology (General, Developmental, or Abnormal), 3–4 units (1 course)

• 6. Mathematics (College Algebra, Calculus, Pre-Calculus, Statistics), 3 units (1 course)

• 7. English/Writing, 6–8 units (1 year)

• 8. Social Sciences/Humanities, 9 units (3 courses)

Recommended: Biochemistry Molecular Biology Statistics Medical Terminology

Cost

• In-state tuition: $123,660

• Seat deposit: $1,000

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• Program website: California Baptist University

• Admissions page: Admissions information

• Prerequisite details: Prerequisite coursework

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: 951-552-8515

• Address: 8432 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA 92551

Program information last verified June 11, 2026. Requirements change, always confirm directly with the program before applying.