University of Texas Rio Grande Valley PA Program: Requirements, Tuition & Stats

• 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.

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

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• 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.