Keck Graduate Institute PA Program: Requirements, Tuition & Stats

• More forgiving on GPA — The average accepted overall GPA (3.4) is in the lower quarter nationally, which makes this a realistic target for applicants whose numbers are the weakest part of their file.

• 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.

• Higher cost — In-state tuition of $120,895 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.

• Strong PANCE outcomes — A first-time PANCE pass rate of 98% is above the national average.

• 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.

• Newer program — This program holds provisional accreditation, which is normal for a program that has not yet graduated its first classes. Expect a smaller alumni network and fewer years of PANCE data.

Keck Graduate Institute 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: 28 months

• Class size: 40 students

• Start month: September

• Application deadline: November

• Rolling admissions: Yes

• In-state tuition: $120,895

• Average overall GPA: 3.4

• Average science GPA: 3.35

• Minimum overall GPA: 3

• Minimum science GPA: 3

• Minimum PCE hours: 1,000 hours

• Letters of recommendation: 3

• First-time PANCE pass rate: 98%

• Accreditation status: Provisional

Admission requirements

• GRE: No

• PA-CAT: No

• CASPer: No

• TOEFL (international applicants): Yes

• Supplemental application: Yes

• Letters of recommendation: 3 — The first letter must be from a healthcare provider who is a Physician Associate (PA), Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), or Nurse Practitioner (NP). The second letter must be from a second healthcare reference (another provider or healthcare professional such as RN or RT), an academic reference (professor or academic advisor), a research supervisor, or a mentor. The third letter is your choice from any of the above categories or from a volunteer supervisor.

• Patient care experience: 1,000 hours minimum

• Interview format: Online

Prerequisites

• Minimum prerequisite grade: C

• Prerequisite expiration: 10 years

• In-progress prerequisites accepted: Yes

• AP or CLEP credit accepted: No

• Pass/Fail coursework accepted: No

• Online coursework accepted: Yes

Required coursework

• Human Anatomy and Physiology with Lab (two courses)

• Microbiology

• Medical Terminology

• General or Inorganic Chemistry with Lab

• Organic or Biochemistry

• Statistics

Cost

• In-state tuition: $120,895

• Seat deposit: $1,500

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• Program website: Keck Graduate Institute

• Admissions page: Admissions information

• Prerequisite details: Prerequisite coursework

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: (909) 819-4544

• Address: 535 WATSON DRIVE, CLAREMONT, CA 91711

Program information last verified June 17, 2026. Requirements change — always confirm directly with the program before applying.