Updated October 28, 2026

Rush PA program acceptance rate

Rush says only 1% of its applicants are offered a seat. It doesn't publish the applicant and admit counts behind that figure, so here is everything else it does publish.

Acceptance rate: About 1%; the program's own figure
PANCE first-time pass rate: 93%; Class of 2025 (one graduate had not yet tested)
Class size: 32; final class size, 2025-2026 cycle
Median GPA: 3.63; Class of 2027
Median patient care hours: 3,728; health care hours, Class of 2027
Interview format: MMI (Zoom)

Every number is from Rush's own PA program pages, checked October 28, 2026. The program does not publish applicant counts.

Rush's interview: MMI

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How the Rush rate is worked out

Rush says only 1% of its applicants are offered a seat. That is the program's own figure. It doesn't post the applicant and admit counts for a named class, so we show its statement as written and don't work out a number of our own. Source

Rush PANCE pass rate

93% of the Class of 2025 (one graduate had not yet tested) passed the PANCE, the national PA certification exam, on their first attempt. Accredited PA programs must post their NCCPA PANCE report for the last five classes. Source

Attrition was 6.25%, 0% and 12.5% for the Classes of 2023, 2024 and 2025, with graduation rates of 93.4%, 100% and 87.5%. Source

What Rush asks of applicants

A 3.0 total and science GPA and 1,000 hours of paid direct patient care. Rush does not require the GRE or Casper. Source
Prerequisites include human anatomy with lab, human physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, psychology and statistics. Source
The entering class's median science GPA was 3.54 (Class of 2027). Source
The program runs 30 months. Source
At 2026-2027 rates, tuition is $14,151 per term, or $113,208 for the whole program. Source

Check where your grades land with our CASPA GPA calculator, which follows CASPA's own grade and subject rules.

Rush deadline for 2027 entry

The 2026-27 cycle ran April 27 to October 1, 2026, so the deadline for 2027 entry has passed. Source

The Rush PA interview

Rush invites about 130 applicants each cycle. For 2026-27, interviews are on Zoom from June through February, with an information session, a multiple mini interview (MMI) and a closed-door student Q&A. There are no group interviews. Source

Full Rush PA interview guide with practice questions

About the Rush PA program

Rush says it received over 3,195 total applications in 2025-2026 and reviewed 2,007 of them for a final class of 32, and that only 1% of applicants are offered a seat. Source
Veterans, applicants from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, first-generation students and endorsed Rush BS in Health Sciences graduates get priority review. In the Class of 2027, 69% met one of these factors. Source
After the classroom year, students do 12 months of core rotations and six months of advanced rotations. Source
Rush's 2026-2027 info packet says ARC-PA placed the program on Accreditation-Probation status in March 2024, until its next review in April 2026, and that the program expected an update by June 2026. Source

Questions people ask

What is the Rush PA program acceptance rate?

Rush says only 1% of its applicants are offered a seat. It doesn't publish the applicant and admit counts behind that figure.

What GPA do you need for the Rush PA program?

Rush reports a median overall GPA of 3.63 (Class of 2027). The median science GPA was 3.54. These are typical figures, not minimums. The program's own minimums are listed under requirements on this page.

What is the Rush PA program's PANCE pass rate?

93% of the Class of 2025 (one graduate had not yet tested) passed the PANCE, the national PA certification exam, on their first attempt.

How many students does the Rush PA program take?

Rush reports a class size of 32 (final class size, 2025-2026 cycle).

What is the Rush PA interview like?

When is the Rush PA program deadline?

The 2026-27 cycle ran April 27 to October 1, 2026, so the deadline for 2027 entry has passed.

Compare other PA programs

Confetto is not affiliated with Rush University Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies or Rush University. Every figure on this page is from the program's own website (Chicago, Illinois), checked October 28, 2026. Programs update these pages each year, so check the source links before you apply.