University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill PA Program: Requirements, Tuition & Stats

• More forgiving on GPA — The average accepted overall GPA (3.45) is in the lower quarter nationally, which makes this a realistic target for applicants whose numbers are the weakest part of their file.

• 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.

• Faster to practice — At 24 months, this program is shorter than most. That means less tuition and earlier income, but a denser schedule with little slack.

• Small cohort — A class of 20 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 $62,642 is in the least expensive quarter of PA programs. Over a career that difference is real money.

• Residency matters — Out-of-state tuition ($109,534) runs 75% 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.

• Strong PANCE outcomes — A first-time PANCE pass rate of 100% is above the national average.

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

At a glance

• Location: North Carolina

• Institution type: Public

• Program length: 24 months

• Class size: 20 students

• Start month: January

• Application deadline: August

• Rolling admissions: No

• In-state tuition: $62,642

• Out-of-state tuition: $109,534

• Average overall GPA: 3.45

• Average science GPA: 3.64

• Minimum overall GPA: 3.2

• Minimum science GPA: 3.2

• Minimum PCE hours: 1,000 hours

• Letters of recommendation: 3

• First-time PANCE pass rate: 100%

• Accreditation status: Continued

Admission requirements

• GRE: No

• PA-CAT: No

• CASPer: No

• TOEFL (international applicants): No

• Supplemental application: Yes (fee $95)

• Letters of recommendation: 3 — PA Healthcare Professional

• Patient care experience: 1,000 hours minimum

• Interview format: Virtual; Panel

Prerequisites

• AP or CLEP credit accepted: No

Required coursework

• Anatomy

• Physiology

• Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry

• Microbiology

• Sociology or Psychology

• Statistics or Biostatistics

• Medical Terminology

Cost

• In-state tuition: $62,642

• Out-of-state tuition: $109,534

• Supplemental application fee: $95

• Seat deposit: $1,000

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• Program website: University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill

• Admissions page: Admissions information

• Prerequisite details: Prerequisite coursework

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: (919) 962-8008

• Address: UNC Physician Assistant Program, Department of Health Sciences, Bondurant Hall, CB #7121, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7121

Program information last verified July 2, 2026. Requirements change — always confirm directly with the program before applying.