University of South Florida PA Program: Requirements, Tuition & Stats

• GPA-competitive — The average accepted overall GPA here (3.85) 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 3.85 — a gap of 0.85. Meeting the floor gets you screened in, not admitted.

• 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.

• Lower cost — In-state tuition of $68,116 is in the least expensive quarter of PA programs. Over a career that difference is real money.

• Residency matters — Out-of-state tuition ($145,482) runs 114% 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.

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

At a glance

• Location: Florida

• Institution type: Public

• Program length: 24 months

• Class size: 50 students

• Start month: May

• Application deadline: September

• Rolling admissions: Yes

• In-state tuition: $68,116

• Out-of-state tuition: $145,482

• Average overall GPA: 3.85

• Average science GPA: 3.82

• 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): Yes

• Supplemental application: No

• Shadowing: No

• Letters of recommendation: 3 — At least one letter of recommendation must be from an individual who supervised or worked with the applicant in a clinical setting. Letters should be from Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Research Mentors, Professors, Volunteer Coordinators/Supervisors who had direct interaction with the applicant.

• Patient care experience: 500 hours minimum

• Interview format: Traditional

Prerequisites

• In-progress prerequisites accepted: No

• AP or CLEP credit accepted: No

Required coursework

• Microbiology with laboratory - 1 Semester (or semester hour equivalent)

• Organic Chemistry with laboratory - 1 Semester (or semester hour equivalent)

• Organic Chemistry II OR Biochemistry – 1 Semester (or semester hour equivalent)

• Human Anatomy and Physiology with laboratory - 2 Semesters (or semester hour equivalent)

• Statistics - 1 Semester (or semester hour equivalent)

• Medical Terminology - 1 Semester (or an on line certificate courses)

Cost

• In-state tuition: $68,116

• Out-of-state tuition: $145,482

• Seat deposit: $200

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.

• Program website: University of South Florida

• Admissions page: Admissions information

• Prerequisite details: Prerequisite coursework

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: 813-974-8926

• Address: 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612

Program information last verified July 6, 2026. Requirements change — always confirm directly with the program before applying.