Rush University PA Program: Requirements, Tuition & Stats

• Middle-of-the-pack GPA — The average accepted overall GPA (3.6) 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 3.6 — a gap of 0.60. 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.

• 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.

Rush University is located in Illinois. The details below come straight from the program and are re-checked on a rolling basis.

At a glance

• Location: Illinois

• Institution type: Private

• Program length: 30 months

• Class size: 32 students

• Start month: June

• Application deadline: October

• Rolling admissions: Yes

• In-state tuition: $106,456

• Average overall GPA: 3.6

• Average science GPA: 3.5

• 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: Continued

Admission requirements

• GRE: No

• PA-CAT: No

• CASPer: No

• TOEFL (international applicants): Yes

• Supplemental application: Yes (fee $40)

• Shadowing: Recommended

• Letters of recommendation: 3 — At least one reference should be from a physician, PA or other health professionals. One should be from a college or university instructor.

• Patient care experience: 1,000 hours minimum

• Interview format: Virtual

Prerequisites

• Minimum prerequisite grade: C

• Prerequisite expiration: 7 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 (lab required) — 3 semester or 4 quarter credit hours

• Human Physiology (lab preferred, not required) — 3 semester or 4 quarter credit hours

• OR a two-course sequence combined Human Anatomy & Physiology (anatomy lab required) — 5 combined semester or 7 combined quarter credit hours

• Biochemistry (lab preferred, not required) — 3 semester or 4 quarter credit hours

• Microbiology (lab preferred, not required) — 3 semester or 4 quarter credit hours

• Psychology (lab not required) — 3 semester or 4 quarter credit hours

• Statistics (lab not required) — 3 semester or 4 quarter credit hours

Cost

• In-state tuition: $106,456

• Supplemental application fee: $40

• Seat deposit: $1,250

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• Program website: Rush University

• Admissions page: Admissions information

• Prerequisite details: Prerequisite coursework

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: (312) 942-7100

• Address: 600 S. Paulina St., Chicago, Illinois 60612

Program information last verified June 24, 2026. Requirements change — always confirm directly with the program before applying.