Stanford University PA Program: Requirements, Tuition & Stats

• More forgiving on GPA — The average accepted overall GPA (3.5) is in the lower quarter nationally, which makes this a realistic target for applicants whose numbers are the weakest part of their file.

• Higher cost — In-state tuition of $182,924 is in the most expensive quarter nationally. Worth weighing against your expected starting salary and loan burden.

Stanford University 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: 27 months

• Class size: 28 students

• Start month: August

• Application deadline: July

• Rolling admissions: No

• In-state tuition: $182,924

• Average overall GPA: 3.5

• Average science GPA: 3.5

• Minimum PCE hours: 500 hours

• Letters of recommendation: 3

• First-time PANCE pass rate: 93%

• Accreditation status: Continued

Admission requirements

• GRE: Optional

• PA-CAT: Yes

• CASPer: No

• TOEFL (international applicants): No

• Supplemental application: No

• Shadowing: Recommended

• Letters of recommendation: 3 — a physician assistant, a physician, and a person who can speak to the applicant's academic potential

• Patient care experience: 500 hours minimum

• Interview format: Traditional

Prerequisites

• Prerequisite expiration: 10 years

• In-progress prerequisites accepted: No

• AP or CLEP credit accepted: No

• Pass/Fail coursework accepted: Yes

• Online coursework accepted: Yes

Required coursework

• Biology (at least one semester/quarter, 3-5 units or credits of General Biology or Human Biology)

• Microbiology (at least one semester/quarter, 3-5 units or credits of Microbiology)

• Anatomy & Physiology (at least one semester/quarter, 3-5 units or credits of Anatomy and at least one semester/quarter, 3-5 units or credits of Physiology including Animal, Human, or Exercise Physiology, or two semesters/quarters, 6-10 units or credits of combined Anatomy and Physiology course)

• Chemistry (at least one semester/quarter, 3-5 units or credits of General Chemistry or Biochemistry)

• Organic Chemistry (at least one semester/quarter, 3-5 units or credits of Organic Chemistry)

• Statistics (at least one semester/quarter, 3-5 units or credits of General Statistics or Biostatistics)

• Psychology (at least one semester/quarter, 3-5 units or credits of General Psychology)

• Upper Division Courses (three additional upper-division bioscience courses, 3-5 units or credits each)

Recommended: Medical Terminology

Cost

• In-state tuition: $182,924

• Seat deposit: $1,000

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• Program website: Stanford University

• Admissions page: Admissions information

• Prerequisite details: Prerequisite coursework

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: 650-725-6959

• Address: 291 Campus Drive, Palo Alto, CA 94305-5408

Program information last verified June 26, 2026. Requirements change — always confirm directly with the program before applying.