Experience-heavy — A 1,000-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.
Faster to practice — At 21 months, this program is shorter than most. That means less tuition and earlier income, but a denser schedule with little slack.
Large cohort — A class of 97 is among the biggest in the country. More seats improves your odds, and the alumni network is larger, but you will need to be proactive about mentorship.
Lower cost — In-state tuition of $49,644 is in the least expensive quarter of PA programs. Over a career that difference is real money.
Residency matters — Out-of-state tuition ($96,000) runs 93% 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.
Medical University of South Carolina is located in South Carolina. The details below come straight from the program and are re-checked on a rolling basis.
At a glance
Location: South Carolina
Institution type: Public
Program length: 21 months
Class size: 97 students
Start month: July
Application deadline: September
Rolling admissions: No
In-state tuition: $49,644
Out-of-state tuition: $96,000
Minimum overall GPA: 3
Minimum science GPA: 3
Minimum PCE hours: 1,000 hours
Letters of recommendation: 3
First-time PANCE pass rate: 92%
Accreditation status: Continued
Admission requirements
GRE: No
PA-CAT: No
CASPer: No
TOEFL (international applicants): Yes
Supplemental application: Yes (fee $80)
Shadowing: Recommended
Letters of recommendation: 3 — health care provider (PA, M.D., NP), science professor and/or someone who has seen the applicant interact with patients (e.g., manager)
Patient care experience: 1,000 hours minimum
Interview format: in-person
Prerequisites
Minimum prerequisite grade: C
Prerequisite expiration: 10 years
In-progress prerequisites accepted: Yes
AP or CLEP credit accepted: No
Pass/Fail coursework accepted: No
Online coursework accepted: Yes
Required coursework
Biology, includes lab — 4 hours
General Chemistry, includes lab — 8 hours
Human Anatomy, includes lab — 4 hours
Human Physiology, includes lab — 4 hours
Medical Terminology — 1 hour
Microbiology, includes lab — 4 hours
Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry — 3 hours
Psychology — 3 hours
Statistics or Biostatistics — 3 hours
Cost
In-state tuition: $49,644
Out-of-state tuition: $96,000
Supplemental application fee: $80
Seat deposit: $500
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.
Program website: Medical University of South Carolina
Admissions page: Admissions information
Prerequisite details: Prerequisite coursework
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 843-792-2536
Address: 151A Rutledge Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425
Program information last verified June 19, 2026. Requirements change — always confirm directly with the program before applying.

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