Middle-of-the-pack GPA: The average accepted overall GPA (3.7) 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 3.7, a gap of 0.50. 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 $117,446 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.
ONE-ON-ONE HELP
Book a Pre-PA Counseling session and spend thirty minutes one-on-one with a practicing PA who knows what admissions committees look for. We will go through your GPA, patient care hours, and school list together, and you will get a written plan for your next steps in your inbox within 24 hours.
Elon University 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: 38 students
Start month: January
Application deadline: August
Rolling admissions: Yes
In-state tuition: $117,446
Average overall GPA: 3.7
Average science GPA: 3.68
Minimum overall GPA: 3.2
Minimum science GPA: 3
Minimum PCE hours: 1,000 hours
Letters of recommendation: 3
First-time PANCE pass rate: 96%
Accreditation status: Continued
Admission requirements
GRE: No
PA-CAT: No
CASPer: No
TOEFL (international applicants): Yes
Supplemental application: No
Letters of recommendation: 3: PA OR Healthcare Professional
Patient care experience: 1,000 hours minimum
Interview format: Virtual, two 15-minute interviews with Elon PA faculty
Prerequisites
AP or CLEP credit accepted: No
Pass/Fail coursework accepted: Yes
Online coursework accepted: Yes
Required coursework
Must be completed within 10 years of enrolling:
-Human Anatomy & Human Physiology: one full academic year (a minimum of seven semester hours). This requirement may be met by taking either: one semester of Anatomy (with lab) and one semester of Physiology (lab preferred but not required), or two semesters of Anatomy and Physiology combined.
-General Chemistry with Lab (4 semester hours)
Additional Chemistry with Lab (4 semester hours): Examples include, but are not limited to chemistry 2, biochemistry, organic chemistry.
-Microbiology (3 semester hours)
-1 Upper-Level Science (3 semester hours): Examples include, but are not limited, to biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, exercise physiology, genetics, immunology and organic chemistry 2.
The non-science course does not have a time limit.
-1 Psychology Course (3 semester hours): It is preferred that this course is from the psychology department, but an upper-level course from another department may be acceptable.
Cost
In-state tuition: $117,446
Seat deposit: $1,000
Want to compare your stats to this program? Pre-PA Bestie is a free, always-updated PA program database where you can save schools and see how your numbers line up. Check out Pre-PA Bestie.
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Program website: Elon University
Admissions page: Admissions information
Prerequisite details: Prerequisite coursework
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 336.278.2000
Address: 100 Campus Drive | Elon, NC 27244
Program information last verified June 16, 2026. Requirements change, always confirm directly with the program before applying.
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