Small cohort: A class of 10 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 $42,357 is in the least expensive quarter of PA programs. Over a career that difference is real money.
Residency matters: Out-of-state tuition ($83,857) runs 98% above in-state. If you can establish residency, this program gets substantially cheaper.
Heavier testing load: This program requires GRE and CASPer. Budget the extra prep time and exam fees before your deadline.
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.
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.
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 Texas Rio Grande Valley is located in Texas. The details below come straight from the program and are re-checked on a rolling basis.
At a glance
Location: Texas
Institution type: Public
Program length: 28 months
Class size: 10 students
Start month: August
Application deadline: March
Rolling admissions: Yes
In-state tuition: $42,357
Out-of-state tuition: $83,857
Minimum overall GPA: 3.7
Minimum science GPA: 3.5
Letters of recommendation: 3
First-time PANCE pass rate: 88%
Accreditation status: Continued
Admission requirements
GRE: Yes
PA-CAT: No
CASPer: Yes
TOEFL (international applicants): Yes
Supplemental application: Yes (fee $50)
Shadowing: Recommended
Letters of recommendation: 3, high school teachers, counselors, or administrators
Prerequisites
Minimum prerequisite grade: C
Prerequisite expiration: 10 years
In-progress prerequisites accepted: No
AP or CLEP credit accepted: Yes
Pass/Fail coursework accepted: No
Online coursework accepted: Yes
Required coursework
General Biology I, 3 semester credit hours
General Biology II, 3 semester credit hours
Genetics, 3 semester credit hours
Microbiology, 3 semester credit hours
Anatomy & Physiology I (human preferred), 3 semester credit hours
Anatomy & Physiology II (human preferred), 3 semester credit hours
General Chemistry I, 3 semester credit hours
General Chemistry II, 3 semester credit hours
Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry, 3 semester credit hours
Statistics, 3 semester credit hours
Introductory Psychology or Abnormal Psychology, 3 semester credit hours
Cost
In-state tuition: $42,357
Out-of-state tuition: $83,857
Supplemental application fee: $50
Seat deposit: $1,000
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 Texas Rio Grande Valley
Admissions page: Admissions information
Prerequisite details: Prerequisite coursework
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 956-665-2291
Address: Health Affairs Building West - EHABW 2.230, Edinburg, TX
Program information last verified July 7, 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!
