Valparaiso University PA Program: Requirements, Tuition & Stats

• More forgiving on GPA — The average accepted overall GPA (3.4) is in the lower quarter nationally, which makes this a realistic target for applicants whose numbers are the weakest part of their file.

• Career-changer friendly — At 132 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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

At a glance

• Location: Indiana

• Institution type: Private

• Program length: 24 months

• Class size: 45 students

• Start month: August

• Application deadline: Rolling

• Rolling admissions: Yes

• In-state tuition: $103,616

• Average overall GPA: 3.4

• Average science GPA: 3.4

• Minimum overall GPA: 3

• Minimum science GPA: 3

• Minimum PCE hours: 132 hours

• Letters of recommendation: 3

• First-time PANCE pass rate: 88%

• Accreditation status: Continued

Admission requirements

• GRE: Yes

• PA-CAT: No

• CASPer: No

• Supplemental application: No

• Shadowing: Recommended

• Letters of recommendation: 3 — At least one letter of reference must be from a healthcare professional who can comment on the applicant's abilities and performance in a clinical setting

• Patient care experience: 132 hours minimum

• Interview format: Unsure - this is more of an undergraduate application so not sure if there is an interview.

Prerequisites

• Minimum prerequisite grade: C

• Prerequisite expiration: 10 years

• In-progress prerequisites accepted: Yes

• AP or CLEP credit accepted: Yes

Required coursework

• Human Anatomy & Physiology with Lab — 6 semester hours

• Microbiology with Lab — 4 semester hours

• Biology — 7 semester hours (in addition to anatomy and physiology)

• General Chemistry with Lab — 8 semester hours

• Organic Chemistry I with Lab — 4 semester hours

• Statistics — 3 semester hours

• Behavioral and Social Sciences — 6 semester hours (Psychology, Sociology, or Anthropology)

• Medical Terminology — 1 semester hour

Cost

• In-state tuition: $103,616

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• Program website: Valparaiso University

• Admissions page: Admissions information

• Prerequisite details: Prerequisite coursework

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: 219.464.5011

• Address: Valparaiso, IN 46383-6493 USA

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