Rocky Vista University – MPAS Admissions Information
Master of Physician Assistant Studies
Why future Physician Assistants choose RVU
Bolstered by a welcoming comradery and a laid-back culture at our Colorado campus, our competency-based curriculum prepares students for a confident and successful career as Physician Assistants.
27
Months
full time, in person, in Colorado
36
Students
total class size
122
Total Credit Hours
97%
PANCE Pass Rate
in 2023
8.3%
2023 Attrition Rate*
*Attrition rate calculation: Number of students who attritted from cohort divided by the entering class size.
91.67%
2023 Graduation Rate**
**Graduation rate: Number of cohort graduates divided by the entering class size.
Steps to a Medical Career
Application Requirements
Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements prior to application. Any requirement below that is not completed prior to submitting the CASPA application will not be considered for review:
- Citizenship: Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Bachelor’s Degree: Applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States.
- GPA: All applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. **Applicants with a CASPA verified Biology, Chemistry, Physics (BCP) GPA of 3.0 or higher are preferred
- Healthcare Experience: Applicants are required to have a minimum of 1,000 hours of documented paid healthcare relevant experience. Paid internships are not accepted as paid healthcare relevant experience. The RVU PA Program does not determine for the applicant what is acceptable healthcare relevant experience and encourages applicants to appropriately describe, within the CASPA application, the type of experience they have accumulated and support why they feel it is healthcare relevant.
- Physician Assistant Shadowing: Though shadowing PA professionals is not required, it is strongly recommended. Shadowing enhances the applicant’s exposure to physician assistants, giving them a deeper understanding of the PA profession.
- Coursework: The Program does not require applicants to have completed specific prerequisite courses. However, the program strongly recommends the following coursework from a regionally accredited institution of higher education:
- Biology
- General Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Physics
- Statistics
- Behavior/Social Science
- Additional coursework such as Genetics, Human Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Cellular Biology, Medical Terminology, Ethics, Humanities, and Communication
- References: Three letters of reference must be submitted through CASPA before an application will be considered complete and reviewable by the RVU PA Program. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure all references have been received by CASPA and are not pending at the time of application submittal. The RVU PA Program does not specify who letters should be written by, rather references should be selected from individuals who are well acquainted with the applicant academically, professionally and/or personally over a period of time. References from family members are strongly discouraged. The program does not accept and will not consider any form of reference (email, phone call, letter, etc.) from individuals outside of the 3 official letters submitted through CASPA.
- Advanced Placement and Transfers: The RVU PA Program does not take into consideration advanced placement credit for any courses and does not accept transfers from other Physician Assistant Programs.
Admissions Process
Applying
The RVU PA Program reviews only verified applications. An application file will be considered complete and reviewable by the PA Program Admissions Committee after satisfactorily completing the following steps:
Step One: Complete the CASPA application. All applications must be submitted to and verified by CASPA by our September 1 deadline for consideration. Please note that it may take CASPA up to 6 weeks to verify an application. The following must be submitted for the CASPA application to be considered complete:
- CASPA online application (including responses to supplemental questions)
- Official transcripts
- Three letters of reference
Step Two: Complete the RVU supplemental essay questions. The program requires a supplemental application to be completed and submitted with the CASPA application. The questions can be found within the CASPA application. Once the CASPA application and supplemental application have been submitted and verified by CASPA, the RVU Admissions Department will screen and review the application. There is a $100 non-refundable supplemental application fee that will be due upon receipt of the application. The RVU Admissions department will notify candidates via email when it is time to submit payment. Applications will not be reviewed by the Program until the fee has been submitted.
Interviews
Applications are reviewed in order of receipt. The Program interviews approximately 110-150 applicants for a maximum cohort size of 36. Applicants are notified of the offer to interview by email and are expected to respond within 10 business days. Interview slots will be offered until filled. The selection process for the RVU PA Program is highly competitive. Applicants are reviewed on an individualized and holistic basis that includes, but is not limited to, the applicant’s commitment to service, academic ability, healthcare experience, letters of reference and potential for success in, and contribution to the profession. The program strives to admit those who will best meet the mission and goals of the program. Invitations are extended to those applicants that the Admissions Committee perceives to be competitive for admissions based on this holistic review.
Acceptance Notifications
Offers of acceptance are made continuously until the class is filled. Final decisions may not be complete until early Spring. Each applicant offered a seat in the class must acknowledge acceptance of the offer within ten (10) business days of their notification and submit a non-refundable acceptance deposit of $500. A second $500 non-refundable deposit must be submitted in April of the year of matriculation. Prior to matriculating into the Program, accepted students must meet the following requirements:
Deferrals
Only students who have been admitted, received an official acceptance letter from RVU, and have fully deposited may request a deferral. Deferral requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis, reviewed by the appropriate dean or program director. Some cases may necessitate additional documentation require students to provide supporting documentation. For additional information on deferral requests, please contact [email protected].
Take the next steps to becoming a Physician Assistant
Become a PA in Colorado
Colorado Campus
Colorado Campus
Rocky Vista University Colorado location is located in a small town called Parker, just 20 miles southeast of Denver, which is a place rooted in history and heritage. The spirit of the west that lives here is matched in character only by our embrace of forward-thinking innovation. This rare balance offers experiences that are unique even for Colorado, making Parker the ideal one-day getaway. The community is known for its excellent school system, extensive biking and jogging trails, recreational facilities, dining, and entertainment, as well as a wide variety of arts and community events held throughout the year.
Explore Campus*Attrition rate calculation: Number of students who attritted from cohort divided by the entering class size.
**Graduation rate: Number of cohort graduates divided by the entering class size.