GPA-competitive: The average accepted overall GPA here (3.79) 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 3.79, a gap of 0.79. Meeting the floor gets you screened in, not admitted.
Career-changer friendly: At 100 required patient care hours, this is one of the lower bars in the country, worth a look if you are switching fields and building hours while you apply.
Lower cost: In-state tuition of $61,105 is in the least expensive quarter of PA programs. Over a career that difference is real money.
Residency matters: Out-of-state tuition ($142,296) runs 133% above in-state. If you can establish residency, this program gets substantially cheaper.
Ask about board prep: The reported first-time PANCE pass rate is 88%. That is below the national average, a fair question to ask on interview day is what remediation and board prep look like.
ONE-ON-ONE HELP
Book a Pre-PA Counseling session and spend thirty minutes one-on-one with a practicing PA who knows what admissions committees look for. We will go through your GPA, patient care hours, and school list together, and you will get a written plan for your next steps in your inbox within 24 hours.
University of South Alabama 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: Public
Program length: 27 months
Class size: 60 students
Start month: May
Application deadline: October
Rolling admissions: No
In-state tuition: $61,105
Out-of-state tuition: $142,296
Average overall GPA: 3.79
Average science GPA: 3.74
Minimum overall GPA: 3
Minimum science GPA: 3
Minimum PCE hours: 100 hours
Letters of recommendation: 3
First-time PANCE pass rate: 88%
Accreditation status: Continued
Admission requirements
GRE: Yes (minimum 145)
PA-CAT: No
TOEFL (international applicants): Yes
Supplemental application: Yes (fee $110)
Letters of recommendation: 3: PA OR Physician (MD/DO)
Patient care experience: 100 hours minimum
Interview format: Holistic interview conducted via Zoom.
Prerequisites
Minimum prerequisite grade: C
Prerequisite expiration: No expiration
In-progress prerequisites accepted: No
AP or CLEP credit accepted: Yes
Online coursework accepted: Yes
Required coursework
General Biology (4.0 sem hrs) - Lab required, or Cell Biology, or Molecular Biology, or Genetics, or Immunology
General Chemistry I (4.0 sem hrs) - Lab required
General Chemistry II (4.0 sem hrs) - Lab required
Organic Chemistry (3.0 sem hrs) or Biochemistry
General Microbiology (3.0 sem hrs) or Infectious Disease, or Molecular Microbiology, or Medical Microbiology, or Microbiology for Healthcare
Human Anatomy (3.0 sem hrs) AND Human Physiology (3.0 sem hrs) OR Human Anatomy & Physiology I (3.0 sem hrs) AND Human Anatomy & Physiology II (3.0 sem hrs)
Mathematics (3.0 sem hrs) - College algebra minimum, or Pre-Calculus, or Calculus
Statistics (3.0 sem hrs) - Statistical Reasoning and Applications
General Psychology (3.0 sem hrs)
Medical Terminology (1.0 sem hrs)
Recommended: Biochemistry Genetics Immunology Pathophysiology Pharmacology
Cost
In-state tuition: $61,105
Out-of-state tuition: $142,296
Supplemental application fee: $110
Seat deposit: $500
Want to compare your stats to this program? Pre-PA Bestie is a free, always-updated PA program database where you can save schools and see how your numbers line up. Check out Pre-PA Bestie.
You don’t have to navigate your application cycle alone.
That’s what Pre-PA Academy is for.
Get ongoing support throughout your PA school journey with 3–4 live sessions every week led by Savanna Perry, PA-C, and The PA Platform team. Bring your questions, get help with what you’re working on right now, and stay on track as you move toward CASPA.
Plus, get access to The PA Platform’s courses, session replays, and exclusive member discounts.
Program website: University of South Alabama
Admissions page: Admissions information
Prerequisite details: Prerequisite coursework
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (251) 445-9334
Address: HAHN 3124, 5721 USA Drive North, Mobile, Alabama 36688
Program information last verified July 3, 2026. Requirements change, always confirm directly with the program before applying.
ABOUT THE PA PLATFORM
We help Pre-PAs get into PA school. Every coach on our team is a practicing PA, and we have been guiding applicants since 2015. Use these program spotlights to build your school list, then let us help with your essay, your interview, and your plan.
WORK WITH A PA COACH
Thirty minutes one-on-one with a practicing PA, plus a written plan for your next steps.
Line-by-line edits from PAs who know exactly what admissions committees are looking for.
Practice with a PA, then get honest feedback before the real thing.
Courses, session replays, and a community of future PAs, all in one membership.
Bundle services into a package built around where you are in the process.
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
Sign up for the newsletter!
