Physician Assistant Program Tuition and Financial Aid

PA Program Tuition & Financial Aid
Tuition rates for the PA Program are established by the Penn State University Board of Trustees in early July of each year, and are the same for residents and non-residents of Pennsylvania.
Total cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, book/supplies and a standard student budget for room and board, transportation and personal expenses.
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Tuition
This website provides cost of attendance information for the current academic year (2022-2023). When necessary, this information will be updated after tuition charges are established each July. Each academic year consists of three semesters (summer, fall, spring) with one class matriculating at the beginning of the summer semester.
Additional Information
2021-2022 semester tuition rate: $13,369
2022-2023 semester tuition rate: $14,171
Annual Penn State Student Initiated Fee: $72
Additional information regarding University tuition and fees schedule can be found at tuition.psu.edu.
Tuition Refund Policy
The Physician Assistant Program follows Penn State University's tuition refund policy in the event of student withdrawal from the program.
Criminal Background Check
All students enrolled in the PA Program will be required to complete the necessary background checks to participate in clinical year. The total cost to complete this process is $59.
Books/Medical Equipment
Because of the extensive full-text electronic books and databases available through our medical library and the utilization of Penn State’s state-of-the-art Simulation Center, our required textbook and equipment costs are considerably lower than many programs.
Health Insurance
All PA students are required to have health insurance coverage. Documentation of coverage is required in order to waive the Penn State student health insurance plan. Penn State offers a health insurance plan for students and their dependents through First Student.
Financial Aid
The Penn State College of Medicine Office of Student Aid is committed to assisting physician assistant students in making informed choices about paying for their graduate education. Although the primary financial responsibility for physician assistant education belongs to the student, there are financial sources that can be explored if financial assistance is necessary. The student aid office provides assistance and counseling to help students understand the financial resources available to them and how to obtain such resources.
The primary application for obtaining financial assistance at the Penn State College of Medicine is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Our federal student code is 003329.
Primary Aid Sources
- University Aid: This includes scholarships and university loans and are almost exclusively need-based.
- Federal Aid: This includes the Direct Stafford Loan and Direct GradPlus Loan. These are non-need based.
Contact Us
If you have questions about financial aid for the Physician Assistant program, please contact the Office of Student Aid at 717-531-7052 or StudentAid@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.