MASTER OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES (MPAS)

Thank you for your interest in the Rocky Vista University Physician Assistant Program. The 2023-24 admissions cycle is now open. Refer to the Admissions Process and Application tabs for more information.

The goal of the RVU PA program is to support the development of clinically competent, collaborative, and compassionate physician assistants. The programs’ competency-based curriculum and its faculty provide the framework to achieve this goal, offering a learner-centered, innovative approach to medical training, promoting patient safety and primary care. Ultimately, it is the learners that make RVU a success.

This program is offered at the Colorado campus.

Upon successful completion of the Master of Physician Studies program, students will be able to:

Provide quality comprehensive patient care (Patient Care)
Apply medical knowledge in the practice environment (Medical Knowledge)
Incorporate evidence-based clinical reasoning into medical decisions. (Practice-based learning)
Communicate effectively in clinical settings. (Interpersonal Communication Skills)
Demonstrate professional behaviors in educational and practice environments. (Professionalism)
Navigate evolving healthcare systems to provide optimal patient care (Systems-based Practice)
Work collaboratively within an interprofessional team (Interprofessional Collaboration)
Employ strategies that promote life-long personal and professional growth (Personal/Professional Development)

Admissions Statistics

The following highlights the demographics of each cohort that has matriculated into our program:

Class Profile	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Total students	36	36	36	36	36
Female	29	26	25	30	25
Male	7	10	11	5	11
In-state	18	24	20	17	16
Out of state	18	27	16	19	20
Average age	25 (range 21-34)	24 (range 22-35)	25 (range 22-40)	25 (range 21-34)	24 (range 21-42)
Average cumulative GPA	3.46	3.5	3.64	3.5	3.54
Average BCP GPA	3.32	3.44	3.35	3.29	3.41

PANCE Pass Rates

Attrition

	Graduated Classes
	Class of 2020	Class of 2021	Class of 2022
Maximum entering class size (as approved by ARC-PA)	36	36	36
Entering class size	33	36	36
Graduates	31	35	34
* Attrition rate	6%	2.7%	5.6%
**Graduation rate	94%	97.2%	94.4%

*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.
Comments:
Class of 2020: 2 student withdrawals
Class of 2021: 1 student decelerated into the Class of 2022
Class of 2022: 1 student decelerated into the Class of 2023; 1 student withdrawal

Student Employment

Accreditation Status

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Rocky Vista University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Rocky Vista University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.

Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be March 2033. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-rocky-vista-university/

Professional Licensure Disclosure Statement

Additional Resources

Admissions Process

Application Requirements

Curriculum

Faculty and Staff

FAQs

General Information Sessions

Message from the Program Director

Mission, Vision and Outcomes

Student Spotlights

Technical Standards

Tuition and Fees

What is a PA?

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

The University reserves the right to change tuition and fees at any time without advanced notice. Learn more about the tuition payment schedule, individual health insurance status, and the tuition refund process.

The Physician Assistant Program processes hundreds of applications for admissions each year. Learn more about requirements for admissions including GRE scores, minimum prerequisite course work, and GPA requirements.

The MPAS curriculum is sequenced and designed to address and integrate the entrustable professional activities in which are contained the competencies the student must achieve to successfully enter the profession upon graduation.

RVU PA STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

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Click here to read previous student spotlights

CONTACT THE PA PROGRAM

COLORADO CAMPUS
8401 South Chambers Rd.
Englewood, CO 80112
303-373-2008

For faster response, please direct inquiries to the PA Program:
admissions@rvu.edu