Updated
Average GPA for PA School: What Programs Actually Accept
The average GPA for PA school is about 3.6 overall and 3.5 in science, the first-year class means in PAEA's Program Report 36 (2021 survey). Most programs set a 3.0 minimum. Of the 30 programs on our PA program pages that publish an entering-class average, the median was 3.76.
Below: the national numbers, what real programs publish, how CASPA calculates your GPA and what to do if yours is lower.
What is the average GPA for PA school?
In PAEA's survey, first-year PA students averaged 3.6 overall, 3.5 in science and 3.5 in BCP, across about 195 reporting programs. They also brought a mean of 3,235 patient contact hours. These are the latest published national figures: “The latest report, By the Numbers: Program Report 3 6, is based on responses to the 2021 Program Survey.” per PAEA. The program numbers below run higher, partly because many of those programs are among the most selective.
What GPA do PA programs actually accept?
We read the admissions pages of 47 PA programs for our program pages. 30 publish an entering-class GPA. Those averages ran from 3.48 to 3.85, with a median of 3.76, and 12 were 3.80 or higher. A minimum is the floor to apply, and the average is where the class lands:
| Program | Minimum | Class average |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 3.00 | 3.85class matriculated August 2026 |
| Wake Forest | 3.20 | 3.74Class of 2028 |
| Colorado | 3.00 | 3.72class starting summer 2026 |
| OHSU | 3.00 | 3.48cumulative undergraduate GPA, class entering in 2025 |
| Kentucky | 2.75 | 3.80cumulative undergraduate GPA, cohort that began January 2026 |
| Wisconsin | 3.20 | 3.70most recently admitted class |
What is the minimum GPA for PA school?
Usually 3.0. Of the 43 programs on our pages that state a GPA rule, 28 set a 3.0 overall minimum, 9 set 3.2 or 3.3, 1 set 3.5, 1 set 2.75 and 4 name no overall minimum (some of those set a science or prerequisite floor instead). Nobody sets these rules centrally. “PAEA does not regulate any PA program's admissions requirements nor determine an applicant's eligibility to apply to any PA program.”, per PAEA, and its admissions toolkit says “This toolkit gives PA programs a practical, structured approach to admissions that goes beyond GPA and test scores.”
Read each program's exact wording. Some count only your last 60 credits, some set a prerequisite GPA, and some require a minimum grade in each prerequisite. Our PA school requirements guide covers the rest.
How does CASPA calculate your GPA?
CASPA, which “Represents 95 percent of currently accredited PA programs”, recalculates every grade the same way. “Your total Quality Points are then divided by your Attempted Credits to determine your GPA.” “CASPA does not recognize an individual school's policies for forgiveness, academic renewal, or grade replacement for repeated courses.” “All grades earned for repeated courses are factored into your CASPA School GPA.” Check yours with our CASPA GPA calculator.
Science, BCP and non-science GPA
Per the CASPA help center: “Biology/Zoology, Inorganic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physics are used to create a BCP Totals GPA.” “Science GPA is calculated using the following course subject categories: Biology/Zoology Inorganic Chemistry Biochemistry Organic Chemistry Physics Other Science”. “Non-Science GPA is calculated using the following course subject categories: English Math Social/Behavioral Science Other Non-Science”. So math counts as non-science in CASPA.
Post-bacc, pass/fail, WF and quarter hours
Your four undergraduate years are “Combined with any post-baccalaureate coursework to create a cumulative undergraduate GPA”, and graduate work is added for an overall GPA. CASPA also shows a GPA for each year, so a rising trend is visible. “Non-graded credits are not included in your GPAs.” That covers AP and pass/fail. But “a grade of WF (i.e., equivalent of a withdrawn with penalty, withdrawn failing, etc.) is factored into GPA calculations as an F.” “The conversion ratio is 1.0 quarter hour = 0.667 semester hours.”
How many credits does it take to raise your GPA?
Your science GPA moves faster than your overall GPA because it rests on fewer credits. That makes upper-level science the quickest lever:
| Science GPA | At all A's | At a 3.7 |
|---|---|---|
| 2.9 to 3.0 | 4 credits | 6 credits |
| 2.9 to 3.2 | 15 credits | 24 credits |
| 3.1 to 3.3 | 12 credits | 20 credits |
| 3.2 to 3.5 | 24 credits | 60 credits |
Retakes help less than they look. A 4-credit C retaken for an A averages 3.0 across 8 credits in CASPA, not 4.0. The same math applies to medical school, covered in medical school with a low GPA.
Can you get into PA school with a low GPA?
Yes, if you meet each program's floor and show the number is behind you. Our steps, in order:
1. Run your CASPA numbers first
Enter every attempt, including retakes and WF grades, in a CASPA GPA calculator. Your CASPA GPA can be lower than your transcript says.
2. Check each program's floor
Compare your overall, science and prerequisite GPAs with each program's own minimum. Some name a science or prerequisite floor and no overall one.
3. Add upper-level science
New courses such as physiology, microbiology or biochemistry raise your science GPA and show recent work. Retake a prerequisite when a program requires a minimum grade in it.
4. Build patient care hours
Hands-on work as an EMT, medical assistant, CNA or scribe is what many programs weigh next to grades.
5. Explain it once
Name what happened and what changed in one short passage, with the grades that followed. Do not repeat it across every essay.
Tests, the essay and what CASPA costs
Some programs ask for the GRE or the PA-CAT, and a solid score adds evidence next to a lower GPA. Use your personal statement for why PA, not for the GPA. On cost, “Each fee waiver covers the cost of the first two programs ($185 and $65, for a total of $250).” per PAEA, which also explains when the cycle opens. The full fee table is in our CASPA guide. If you are still choosing a path, see PA vs MD and the GPA for medical school.
What do PA interviewers ask about grades?
If your GPA is below a program's average, expect a direct question. Keep it short, point to the recent grades and move on. More in our PA interview questions, why PA and not MD and the PA program guides.
“Your science GPA is below our average. Why should we be confident you can handle our didactic year?”
Programs ask this because the first year is fast. Own the number, show the recent grades that answer it, and say how you study now.
Our example answer (we wrote it, not a real applicant)
My science GPA is 3.2 because of my first two years, when I worked 25 hours a week and took organic chemistry and physics in the same term. I passed both, but with C's.
Since then I have taken 16 credits of upper-level science while working as an ER tech, including physiology, microbiology and biochemistry, and earned A's in all of them. I study in blocks every morning and review with a partner twice a week.
Working full shifts while taking those classes is the closest thing I know to your didactic year, and it is the reason I am confident I can keep up.
Sources: PAEA Program Report 36, PAEA program survey page, PAEA on CASPA, CASPA GPA calculations and each program's own admissions page, linked from its page in our PA program directory. All checked October 30, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average GPA for PA school?
About 3.6 overall and 3.5 in science for first-year PA students, per PAEA's Program Report 36, which covers the 2021 survey. The programs on our PA program pages that publish an entering-class average had a median of 3.76.
What is the minimum GPA for PA school?
Most programs set 3.0. Of the 43 programs on our PA program pages that state a GPA rule, 28 set a 3.0 overall minimum, 9 set 3.2 or 3.3 and a few set no overall minimum at all. Check each program's own page.
Can I get into PA school with a 3.0 GPA?
It is possible at programs whose minimum is 3.0, but you will be below most entering-class averages. Strong recent science grades, plenty of patient care hours and a clear explanation make the difference.
Does CASPA replace a grade if I retake a course?
No. CASPA ignores grade forgiveness and replacement and counts every attempt. A 4-credit C retaken for an A averages 3.0 across 8 credits. Retake a course when a program requires a minimum grade in it.
What is the difference between science GPA and BCP GPA in CASPA?
BCP uses biology, inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, organic chemistry and physics. Science GPA adds Other Science. Math counts in the non-science GPA in CASPA.
Do post-bacc classes raise my CASPA GPA?
Yes. Post-baccalaureate coursework is combined with your four undergraduate years into your cumulative undergraduate GPA, and graduate work is added into your overall GPA. CASPA also shows each level separately.
More PA program guides
Applying to more PA programs? These guides cover how other programs interview: