SUNY Downstate Medical Center PA Program: Requirements, Tuition & Stats

• Higher cost — In-state tuition of $133,680 is in the most expensive quarter nationally. Worth weighing against your expected starting salary and loan burden.

• Residency matters — Out-of-state tuition ($267,480) runs 100% above in-state. If you can establish residency, this program gets substantially cheaper.

• 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.

• Stricter prerequisite grades — A minimum of B in prerequisites is tougher than the typical C. Recheck your transcript before you invest in the application.

SUNY Downstate Medical Center is located in New York. The details below come straight from the program and are re-checked on a rolling basis.

At a glance

• Location: New York

• Institution type: Public

• Program length: 27 months

• Class size: 45 students

• Start month: June

• Application deadline: February

• Rolling admissions: Yes

• In-state tuition: $133,680

• Out-of-state tuition: $267,480

• Minimum overall GPA: 3

• Minimum science GPA: 3

• Minimum PCE hours: 500 hours

• Letters of recommendation: 3

• First-time PANCE pass rate: 92%

• Accreditation status: Continued

Admission requirements

• GRE: Yes

• PA-CAT: No

• CASPer: No

• TOEFL (international applicants): No

• Supplemental application: Yes

• Letters of recommendation: 3 — A current/former College Science Professor and the other from a clinician (Physician Assistant, MD, Nurse practitioner, or other Health Care Professionals e.g. Physician Assistant, Physical Therapist, and Occupational Therapist)

• Patient care experience: 500 hours minimum

• Interview format: Traditional

Prerequisites

• Minimum prerequisite grade: B

• Prerequisite expiration: 8 years

• AP or CLEP credit accepted: No

• Online coursework accepted: No

Required coursework

• Anatomy & Physiology 1 with labs and Anatomy & Physiology 2 with labs (Must be designated for Science Majors) — 8 credits

• General Biology 1 with labs and General Biology 2 with labs (Must be designated for Science Majors) — 8 credits

• General Chemistry 1 with labs and General Chemistry 2 with labs (Must be designated for Science Majors) — 8 credits

• Microbiology (not Bacteriology) with labs (Must be designated for Science Majors) — 3 credits

• Mathematics (not Remedial Math nor Statistics) — 3 credits

• General Psychology — 3 credits

• Abnormal Psychology or Life Span Psychology — 3 credits

• English — 6 credits

• Humanities or Social Science courses — 6 credits

• Two upper division science courses (One must be in Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, Pathophysiology, Genetics, or Pharmacology) — 6-8 credits

Recommended: Organic Chemistry Genetics Biochemistry Neuroanatomy Nutrition Pathophysiology Pharmacology Statistics Or other upper-division biology courses at the 300-400 level

Cost

• In-state tuition: $133,680

• Out-of-state tuition: $267,480

• Seat deposit: $150

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• Program website: SUNY Downstate Medical Center

• Admissions page: Admissions information

• Prerequisite details: Prerequisite coursework

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: (718) 270-1000

• Address: 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203

Program information last verified June 29, 2026. Requirements change — always confirm directly with the program before applying.