University of Iowa PA Program: Requirements, Tuition & Stats

• GPA-competitive: The average accepted overall GPA here (3.77) 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 3.77, a gap of 0.77. 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.

• Small cohort: A class of 25 is well below the national median of 40. Expect more faculty contact and a tighter class culture, and fewer seats to compete for.

• Lower cost: In-state tuition of $54,573 is in the least expensive quarter of PA programs. Over a career that difference is real money.

• Residency matters: Out-of-state tuition ($103,230) runs 89% above in-state. If you can establish residency, this program gets substantially cheaper.

• No extra standardized testing: No GRE, PA-CAT, or CASPer required, one less hurdle if standardized tests are not your strength.

• 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.

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

At a glance

• Location: Iowa

• Institution type: Public

• Program length: 28 months

• Class size: 25 students

• Start month: August

• Application deadline: October

• Rolling admissions: Yes

• In-state tuition: $54,573

• Out-of-state tuition: $103,230

• Average overall GPA: 3.77

• Average science GPA: 3.72

• Minimum overall GPA: 3

• Minimum science GPA: 3.4

• Minimum PCE hours: 1,000 hours

• Letters of recommendation: 3

• First-time PANCE pass rate: 96%

• Accreditation status: Continued

Admission requirements

• GRE: Optional

• PA-CAT: No

• CASPer: Recommended

• TOEFL (international applicants): Yes

• Supplemental application: No

• Letters of recommendation: 3, 1 must be a collegiate academic reference and 1 must be a direct patient healthcare supervisor

• Patient care experience: 1,000 hours minimum

• Interview format: MMI

Prerequisites

• Prerequisite expiration: 10 years

• Pass/Fail coursework accepted: Yes

Required coursework

• Biological Sciences:

• - A Complete Course Sequence in Biology (General Biology I and II, or Animal Biology, Human Biology, or General Zoology)

• - A Course in Physiology (Animal, Exercise, or Human)

• - At Least 3 Additional Upper-Level Courses in Biology or Zoology (must require prerequisites)

• Chemical Sciences:

• - A Complete Course Sequence in Inorganic Chemistry (General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II)

• - At Least 1 Semester of Organic Chemistry (must require a prerequisite)

• - Introductory/General Biochemistry (must require Organic Chemistry as prerequisite)

• Statistical Sciences:

• - Any course with Statistics in the title (General Statistics, Biometry Statistics, Biostatistics, Business Statistics, or Psychological Statistics)

Recommended: Cell Biology, Genetics, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Neurology (Neuroscience), Pharmacology

Cost

• In-state tuition: $54,573

• Out-of-state tuition: $103,230

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• Program website: University of Iowa

• Admissions page: Admissions information

• Prerequisite details: Prerequisite coursework

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: 319-335-8922

• Address: 1221 Medical Education Research Facility, 375 Newton Road, Iowa City, Iowa 52242

Program information last verified July 1, 2026. Requirements change, always confirm directly with the program before applying.