Samford University PA Program: Requirements, Tuition & Stats

• GPA-competitive — The average accepted overall GPA here (3.87) sits in the top quarter of PA programs nationally. If your GPA is below about 3.66, you will want the rest of your application — hours, letters, upward trend — to do real work.

• The minimum is not the target — The stated minimum GPA is 3, but the average accepted is 3.87 — a gap of 0.87. Meeting the floor gets you screened in, not admitted.

• Experience-heavy — A 2,000-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.

• Heavier testing load — This program requires GRE and PA-CAT. Budget the extra prep time and exam fees before your deadline.

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

At a glance

• Location: Alabama

• Institution type: Private

• Program length: 27 months

• Class size: 36 students

• Start month: August

• Application deadline: August

• Rolling admissions: No

• In-state tuition: $97,000

• Average overall GPA: 3.87

• Average science GPA: 3.84

• Minimum overall GPA: 3

• Minimum science GPA: 3

• Minimum PCE hours: 2,000 hours

• Letters of recommendation: 3

• First-time PANCE pass rate: 92%

• Accreditation status: Continued

Admission requirements

• GRE: Yes

• PA-CAT: Yes

• CASPer: No

• Supplemental application: Yes (fee $75)

• Letters of recommendation: 3 — Professor Supervisor PA OR Physician (MD/DO) OR FNP

• Patient care experience: 2,000 hours minimum

• Interview format: During the interview process, each candidate will undergo two interviews with a faculty member. Areas that will be assessed are: Professionalism Communication skills Leadership qualities Knowledge of the PA profession The interviewer’s overall impression of the candidate.

Prerequisites

• Minimum prerequisite grade: A

• AP or CLEP credit accepted: Yes

• Pass/Fail coursework accepted: Yes

Required coursework

• General Psychology or Abnormal Psychology or Developmental Psychology—two of the three required (6 semester hours)

• Human Anatomy & Human Physiology with labs, or Anatomy & Physiology I and II with labs or Comparative Anatomy and Mammalian physiology with labs. (Must complete a full sequence. Substitutions for separate course sequence will not be accepted.) (6-8 semester hours)

• General biology I and II with labs (6-8 semester hours) *Survey and intro courses not acceptable

• Microbiology with lab (3-4 semester hours) *Survey and intro courses not acceptable

• General Chemistry I and II with labs or higher Chemistry (Organic I or Organic II with labs) (8-9 semester hours) *Survey and intro courses not acceptable

• Statistics, including statistical tests and analysis (3 semester hours)

• Medical Terminology (1 semester hour)

Cost

• In-state tuition: $97,000

• Supplemental application fee: $75

• Seat deposit: $1,000

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• Program website: Samford University

• Admissions page: Admissions information

• Prerequisite details: Prerequisite coursework

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: 205-726-4637

• Address: Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, AL 35229

Program information last verified June 25, 2026. Requirements change — always confirm directly with the program before applying.