Duke University Medical Center PA Program: Requirements, Tuition & Stats

• Middle-of-the-pack GPA — The average accepted overall GPA (3.63) is close to the national middle, so a solid-but-not-spectacular academic record is genuinely competitive here.

• 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.

• 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.

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

Duke University Medical Center is located in North Carolina. The details below come straight from the program and are re-checked on a rolling basis.

At a glance

• Location: North Carolina

• Institution type: Private

• Program length: 24 months

• Class size: 90 students

• Start month: August

• Application deadline: September

• Rolling admissions: Yes

• In-state tuition: $97,902

• Average overall GPA: 3.63

• Minimum PCE hours: 1,000 hours

• Letters of recommendation: 3

• First-time PANCE pass rate: 93%

• Accreditation status: Continued

Admission requirements

• GRE: Yes

• PA-CAT: No

• CASPer: No

• Supplemental application: Yes (fee $60)

• Shadowing: No

• Letters of recommendation: 3 — Healthcare Professional

• Patient care experience: 1,000 hours minimum

• Interview format: two individual interview, one group with other applicants

Prerequisites

• Minimum prerequisite grade: B-

• Prerequisite expiration: 10 years

• In-progress prerequisites accepted: Yes

• AP or CLEP credit accepted: No

• Pass/Fail coursework accepted: Yes

• Online coursework accepted: Yes

Required coursework

• Anatomy: 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours

• Physiology: 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours

• Microbiology: 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours

• Other Biology course of choice: 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours

• Second Other Biology course of choice: 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours

• Chemistry course of choice with lab: total of 4 semester or 5 quarter hours

• Second Chemistry course of choice with lab: total of 4 semester or 5 quarter hours

• Statistics: 2 semester hours or 3 quarter hours

Recommended: To fulfill the other biological science course prerequisites, the PA Program recommends courses in genetics, cell biology, molecular biology, embryology, histology, or immunology.

Cost

• In-state tuition: $97,902

• Supplemental application fee: $60

• Seat deposit: $950

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• Program website: Duke University Medical Center

• Admissions page: Admissions information

• Prerequisite details: Prerequisite coursework

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: 919.681.3161

• Address: Duke Physician Assistant Program, DUMC 104780, Durham, NC 27710

Program information last verified June 16, 2026. Requirements change — always confirm directly with the program before applying.