University of Utah PA Program: Requirements, Tuition & Stats

• More forgiving on GPA — The average accepted overall GPA (3.5) is in the lower quarter nationally, which makes this a realistic target for applicants whose numbers are the weakest part of their file.

• The minimum is not the target — The stated minimum GPA is 3, but the average accepted is 3.5 — a gap of 0.50. Meeting the floor gets you screened in, not admitted.

• Experience-heavy — A 2,000-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.

• Lower cost — In-state tuition of $82,172 is in the least expensive quarter of PA programs. Over a career that difference is real money.

• Residency matters — Out-of-state tuition ($122,466) runs 49% 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.

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

At a glance

• Location: Utah

• Institution type: Public

• Program length: 27 months

• Class size: 68 students

• Start month: May

• Application deadline: August

• Rolling admissions: No

• In-state tuition: $82,172

• Out-of-state tuition: $122,466

• Average overall GPA: 3.5

• Average science GPA: 3.5

• Minimum overall GPA: 3

• Minimum science GPA: 3

• Minimum PCE hours: 2,000 hours

• Letters of recommendation: 3

• First-time PANCE pass rate: 93%

• Accreditation status: Continued

Admission requirements

• GRE: No

• PA-CAT: No

• CASPer: No

• TOEFL (international applicants): Yes

• Supplemental application: No

• Letters of recommendation: 3 — Supervisor OR Healthcare Professional

• Patient care experience: 2,000 hours minimum

• Interview format: Candidates will be given a test of basic anatomy, physiology, and general medical terminology during the interview sessions: study guides are not provided.

Prerequisites

• Minimum prerequisite grade: C

• Prerequisite expiration: Anatomy and Physiology courses taken before Fall 2019 must be repeated no later than fall semester 2026. Prerequisites other than Anatomy and Physiology do not expire.

• In-progress prerequisites accepted: No

• AP or CLEP credit accepted: No

• Pass/Fail coursework accepted: Yes

• Online coursework accepted: Yes

Required coursework

• Human Anatomy, four semester credits - Must be human and with a lab; animal or comparative anatomy courses are not accepted. UPAP will accept a three-semester credit human anatomy class in lieu of the four-semester credit requirement (such as that offered by BYU Provo), but only if a lab was taken as a part of the class, and the class is accepted for science majors.

• Human Physiology, four semester credits - Must be human; no other physiology courses are accepted,

• - or -

• Anatomy and Physiology I and II, totaling eight semester credits - As a combined full year series is accepted in lieu of separate anatomy and physiology courses.

• Biology, four semester credits, lab credit can be included - All biology coursework with a relationship to the human body is accepted. Microbiology is most strongly recommended.

• Chemistry, eight semester credits, lab credit can be included - All chemistry coursework is accepted, including intro, general, inorganic, organic and biochemistry.

Recommended: Physician assistants care for patients from a broad range of backgrounds. Therefore, UPAP recommends that applicants have some coursework that supports understanding of diverse backgrounds and contributes to a sense of cultural competency. We also recommend courses in writing, statistics, microbiology, and genetics.

Cost

• In-state tuition: $82,172

• Out-of-state tuition: $122,466

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• Program website: University of Utah

• Admissions page: Admissions information

• Prerequisite details: Prerequisite coursework

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: 801-581-7766

• Address: 375 Chipeta Way, Suite A, Salt Lake City, UT 84108

Program information last verified July 7, 2026. Requirements change — always confirm directly with the program before applying.