Middle-of-the-pack GPA: The average accepted overall GPA (3.73) 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 3.73, a gap of 0.73. Meeting the floor gets you screened in, not admitted.
Experience-heavy: A 1,500-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 $122,873 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 97% 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.
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.
Rocky Mountain College is located in Montana. The details below come straight from the program and are re-checked on a rolling basis.
At a glance
Location: Montana
Institution type: Private
Program length: 26 months
Class size: 48 students
Start month: June
Application deadline: October
Rolling admissions: Yes
In-state tuition: $122,873
Out-of-state tuition: $123
Average overall GPA: 3.73
Average science GPA: 3.68
Minimum overall GPA: 3
Minimum science GPA: 3
Minimum PCE hours: 1,500 hours
Letters of recommendation: 3
First-time PANCE pass rate: 97%
Accreditation status: Continued
Admission requirements
GRE: Yes
TOEFL (international applicants): Yes
Supplemental application: No (fee $45)
Letters of recommendation: 3: One from a healthcare provider, preferably a physician assistant. Letters from family members are not accepted.
Patient care experience: 1,500 hours minimum
Interview format: Virtual
Prerequisites
Minimum prerequisite grade: C-
Prerequisite expiration: 10 years
In-progress prerequisites accepted: Yes
AP or CLEP credit accepted: Yes
Online coursework accepted: No
Required coursework
Chemistry – 8 credits total: Two semesters of organic chemistry OR One semester of organic chemistry and one semester of biochemistry
Biology – 15 credits total: Two semesters of human anatomy and physiology with laboratory required (from biology, physiology, zoology, or an allied health program) – 8 credits; One semester of microbiology with lab required – 3 credits; One semester of genetics – 3 credits
Medical Terminology – 1–2 credits
Mathematics – 6 credits: One course in pre-calculus or higher – 3 credits (including functions, trigonometry, exponents, and logarithmic functions); One course in statistics/probability – 3 credits
Psychology – 3 credits: One course in psychology (developmental or abnormal psychology is highly recommended)
English Composition – 3 credits: One college-level English composition course
Social Science – 3 credits: One course in a social science that is NOT from a psychology department, such as: sociology, geography, anthropology, political science, or economics
Recommended: One year of undergraduate physics or additional quantitative and/or laboratory-based science courses; Additional writing-intensive coursework
Cost
In-state tuition: $122,873
Out-of-state tuition: $123
Supplemental application fee: $45
Seat deposit: $250
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: Rocky Mountain College
Admissions page: Admissions information
Prerequisite details: Prerequisite coursework
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1 (800) 877-6259
Address: 1511 Poly Dr, Billings, MT 59102
Program information last verified June 24, 2026. Requirements change, always confirm directly with the program before applying.
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