Detroit Mercy offers a Master of Science in Physician Assistant through two-year full-time and three-year part-time graduate tracks, plus undergraduate pathways. Graduate applicants apply through CASPA and must meet the program's academic, GRE or graduate-degree, Casper, experience, recommendation, and interview requirements.
- Program
- Master of Science in Physician Assistant
- Credential
- MS
- Location
- Detroit, Michigan, United States
- Casper
- Required
- Next deadline
- January 15, 2027 (CASPA application, verification, and required supplemental materials deadline)
- Interview
- Interview
- Length
- Two-year full-time or three-year part-time graduate track; a separate five-year combined undergraduate/graduate pathway.
Casper Requirement for University of Detroit Mercy Physician Assistant
University of Detroit Mercy Physician Assistant requires Casper for the 2026-2027 cycle.
- Languages
- English
- Applicant ID to enter
- CASPA ID
- Other Acuity assessments
- Duet (not required)
Check available Casper test dates in your Acuity Insights account at takecasper.com.
Accepts the Acuity Insights Fee Assistance Program (FAP).
Casper format
Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test run by Acuity Insights. The current format has 11 scenarios (4 video-response and 7 typed-response) with 2 questions each and takes about 65 to 85 minutes, including optional breaks. Typed-response scenarios allow 3.5 minutes to answer both questions.
Practice with Bright Doctor's Casper Question Bank, featuring 100+ scenarios and 300+ expert responses.
University of Detroit Mercy Physician Assistant Application Deadlines 2026-2027
- Apply through
- CASPA
- Applications open
- April 30, 2026
- Application fee
- CASPA: $185 for the first program and $65 for each additional program.
| What | When |
|---|---|
| CASPA application, verification, and required supplemental materials deadline | January 15, 2027upcoming |
Apply early: complete, verified applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and later applicants may be considered only for the waitlist once seats fill.
University of Detroit Mercy Physician Assistant Admissions Statistics
Period: 2024 matriculants
- Admitted: 60 matriculating students
- Average GPA: 3.74 average undergraduate GPA
- Average test score: 305.2 average GRE
- Average patient-care experience: 2,834 hours
Eligibility Requirements for University of Detroit Mercy Physician Assistant
- Degree / credits
A bachelor's degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution, or documented U.S. bachelor's-degree equivalency. An unfinished bachelor's degree may qualify for contingent admission if completed before fall classes; only its final transcript may follow the application deadline.
- Citizenship
U.S. citizens and permanent residents with foreign credentials may apply through CASPA with a course-by-course U.S. degree-equivalency evaluation. Applicants who are neither must select Detroit Mercy's International Physician Assistant application.
- Language proficiency
Applicants whose native language is not English, or who have not completed a four-year degree at an approved U.S. school, must take Detroit Mercy's academic English proficiency test upon arrival; spoken-English proficiency may also be assessed.
Admission pathways
- Five-year undergraduate-to-graduate pathway: Unique five-year combined undergraduate and PA studies pathway.
- Two-year graduate track: Graduate MS track.
- Three-year graduate track: Graduate MS track / extended track.
Graduate applicants must meet the PA admission requirements. Detroit Mercy's five-year students must maintain 3.5 overall and 3.3 science GPAs; the Pre-PA pathway has its own criteria. Neither pathway guarantees a graduate-program seat.
Other requirements
- Prerequisite recency: Complete all six prerequisites within the program's required recency window; AP credit or testing out does not satisfy them.
- Offer deposit: Accepted students pay a $1,000 nonrefundable deposit within two weeks of an offer; it is applied to tuition.
Selection Factors University of Detroit Mercy Considers
Prerequisites
| Course | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Nutrition | Course on human nutritional needs, health, disease, and therapeutic diets Grade 3.0+ |
| Medical ethics | Course examining moral issues in health care and medical research Grade 3.0+ |
| Statistics | Statistical methods for human-science research, including statistical software Grade 3.0+ |
| Advanced physiology | Upper-level human/medical physiology; combined anatomy-physiology and pathophysiology do not qualify Grade 3.0+ |
| Microbiology with lab | Microorganisms and laboratory techniques Grade 3.0+ |
| Developmental psychology | Lifespan development from birth to death Grade 3.0+ |
GPA
- How it is calculated
CASPA calculates cumulative undergraduate GPA. If it is below 3.0, applicants may request consideration of CASPA-calculated junior- and senior-year undergraduate GPA by selecting the designated box in CASPA.
- Minimum
- Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA: 3.0/4.0 for graduate PA admission. Each of the six prerequisites requires a grade of 3.0 or better. The 3.5 overall/3.3 science rule applies to Detroit Mercy undergraduate pathways, not all graduate applicants.
- Competitive
- The program publishes matriculant averages, not a separate competitive-GPA cutoff.
Holistic review weighs academic performance heavily.
Admissions tests
- GRE General Test (required for some applicants): Minimum combined score 291 for applicable GRE exams; send official scores to CASPA using GI 0509 by the application deadline. Waived for a completed accredited U.S. graduate degree with cumulative GPA 3.0+.
- MCAT (not required): MCAT scores are not accepted in place of the GRE.
Experience and volunteer hours
Required.
Complete at least 1,000 hours of approved health care or helping-care experience by the application deadline. Paid or volunteer work may qualify; direct patient care is not always necessary. Experience must be verified in CASPA.
Supplementary application
Submit two professional recommendations through CASPA from people able to assess your professional skills, such as a supervisor, co-worker, or academic adviser. At least one from a PA or physician is preferred, not required, if that person can assess your work.
How applicants are ranked
Complete, verified applications receive rolling review; PA faculty select interviewees. Offers go only to interviewed applicants. Interview assessment considers professionalism, PA-role understanding, service motivation, relevant experience, communication, integrity, leadership, and teamwork. Some applicant groups may receive additional consideration.
Interview Format at University of Detroit Mercy
Format: Interview
An invitation-only personal interview with members of the PA Graduate Admissions Committee; the program does not specify a phone or virtual interview format.
- Who is invited
- Applicants selected by PA faculty after review of complete applications
- When
- Usually March, with timing subject to change.
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Start Practicing FreeCurriculum at University of Detroit Mercy Physician Assistant
- Program length
- Two-year full-time or three-year part-time graduate track; a separate five-year combined undergraduate/graduate pathway.
- Structure
The full-time track has a didactic first year and clinical second year. The part-time track spreads didactic study over two years before the same clinical year.
- Campuses
- Detroit
Full-time students complete didactic study followed by clinical rotations and a primary-care preceptorship; the three-year track extends the didactic phase.
Campus and facilities
Located in Detroit, Michigan. The campus supports PA students through accredited facilities tailored to clinical preparation. Affiliations enable rotations in diverse healthcare settings.
Tuition and Funding at University of Detroit Mercy
- Estimated program tuition, 2026-2027: $117,372
Detroit Mercy estimates total tuition and other program costs at $136,112-$171,696, depending partly on housing and clinical-site transportation. An offer requires a $1,000 deposit applied to tuition.
University of Detroit Mercy's Mission and Values
To produce highly ethical, clinically competent medical professionals prepared to deliver quality care and serve diverse and underserved populations.
To produce highly ethical, clinically competent medical professionals thoroughly prepared to deliver quality care and dedicated to serve diverse and underserved populations.
What Applicants Are Saying
Students describe progressing from didactic coursework to clinical rotations. Some say spreading coursework across the longer track helps them balance study with other commitments.
Shared by applicants and students on forums and communities. It is anecdotal, not official program information.
How to Prepare Your University of Detroit Mercy Physician Assistant Application
- Check your cumulative undergraduate GPA and complete all six recent prerequisites.
- Document at least 1,000 approved experience hours and obtain two professional recommendations.
- Arrange GRE scores or confirm eligibility for the completed-graduate-degree waiver.
- Complete Casper and submit a complete, verified CASPA application by the deadline.
- Prepare to discuss PA practice, service, teamwork, and problem-solving at an invitation-only interview.
Frequently Asked Questions About University of Detroit Mercy Physician Assistant
Does University of Detroit Mercy PA Program require Casper?
Yes. All graduate PA applicants must complete Casper; Duet is not required.
What is the GPA requirement for Detroit Mercy PA Program?
Graduate applicants need at least a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA and a 3.0-or-better grade in each prerequisite. Higher pathway GPAs are separate rules.
How does the interview process work at University of Detroit Mercy PA?
PA faculty select applicants with complete applications for a personal committee interview. Interviews are usually held in March; the school does not specify a phone or virtual format.
What is the tuition for University of Detroit Mercy PA Program?
Estimated program tuition is $117,372; estimated total costs are $136,112-$171,696.
Does Detroit Mercy PA Program use CASPA?
Yes, graduate applicants use CASPA; the admissions page gives a separate application instruction for applicants who are neither U.S. citizens nor permanent residents.
What tracks does University of Detroit Mercy PA offer?
Two-year full-time and three-year part-time graduate tracks, plus a separate five-year combined pathway.
How many references for Detroit Mercy PA admissions?
Two professional recommendations through CASPA; a PA or physician recommendation is preferred, not mandatory, when that person knows your work.
Is Detroit Mercy PA Program easier than full-time formats?
The three-year track spreads didactic coursework over two years rather than one; both graduate tracks complete a clinical year.
Sources
- healthprofessions.udmercy.edu: pa
- physicianassistantforum.com: 72782 university of detroit mercy 2025 2026
- eng-sci.udmercy.edu: pa five year
- paeaonline.org: university of detroit mercy
- eng-sci.udmercy.edu: pre physican assistant
- healthprofessions.udmercy.edu: goals outcomes
- physicianassistantforum.com: 183 info from a udm pa
- healthprofessions.udmercy.edu: pa admission
- healthprofessions.udmercy.edu: 2025 26 Physician Assistant Policy Manual 4 7 2025
- prehealth.udmercy.edu: interviews
- thepalife.com: multiple mini interview guide
Last updated: September 26, 2026