GPA-competitive: The average accepted overall GPA here (3.87) 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 3.2, but the average accepted is 3.87, a gap of 0.67. Meeting the floor gets you screened in, not admitted.
Career-changer friendly: At 80 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.
Longer runway: At 36 months, this is a longer program than average. Check whether the extra time buys a dual degree, a bridge/undergraduate component, or additional clinical time.
Small cohort: A class of 25 is well below the national median of 40. Expect more faculty contact and a tighter class culture, and fewer seats to compete for.
Residency matters: Out-of-state tuition ($148,994) runs 51% above in-state. If you can establish residency, this program gets substantially cheaper.
Strong PANCE outcomes: A first-time PANCE pass rate of 100% is above the national average.
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West Virginia University is located in West Virginia. The details below come straight from the program and are re-checked on a rolling basis.
At a glance
Location: West Virginia
Institution type: Public
Program length: 36 months
Class size: 25 students
Start month: January
Application deadline: August
In-state tuition: $98,909
Out-of-state tuition: $148,994
Average overall GPA: 3.87
Average science GPA: 3.84
Minimum overall GPA: 3.2
Minimum science GPA: 3.2
Minimum PCE hours: 80 hours
Letters of recommendation: 3
First-time PANCE pass rate: 100%
Accreditation status: Continued
Admission requirements
GRE: Yes
PA-CAT: No
CASPer: No
Supplemental application: No
Letters of recommendation: 3: One from a college or university professor who instructed you in a course, one from a supervisor of the clinical experience including evidence of how the student contributed to the delivery of care, and a third from either of the two preceding categories
Patient care experience: 80 hours minimum
Interview format: Interviews for the program will generally be conducted during the month of August.
Prerequisites
Minimum prerequisite grade: C
Prerequisite expiration: 10 years
In-progress prerequisites accepted: Yes
AP or CLEP credit accepted: No
Required coursework
Biology with lab - 4 credits
General Chemistry with lab - 8 credits
Organic or Biochemistry with lab - 4 credits
Human Anatomy with lab - 4 credits
Human Physiology - 3 credits
Microbiology - 3 credits
Psychology - 3 credits
Statistics - 3 credits
Medical Terminology - 1 credit
Cost
In-state tuition: $98,909
Out-of-state tuition: $148,994
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.
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Program website: West Virginia University
Admissions page: Admissions information
Prerequisite details: Prerequisite coursework
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 304-293-3257
Address: 64 Medical Center Drive, P.O. Box 9100, Morgantown, WV 26506-9600
Program information last verified July 7, 2026. Requirements change, always confirm directly with the program before applying.
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