Prepare to become a highly competent, patient-centered physician assistant.
About the Physician Assistant Studies Program
At Delaware Valley University, you will find a physician assistant program that is dedicated to the pillars of scholarship, service, and professionalism. As a student in our program, you will:
- Gain the skills and training you need to become a highly competent, excellent clinician and leader in the complex health care environment.
- Learn how to provide compassionate, team-based, and evidence-based patient care.
- Learn to meet the diverse needs of society and communities as a multi-culturally competent healthcare professional.
- Have unparalleled opportunities for experiential learning. At DelVal, we strive to provide a well-rounded and hands-on clinical experience that fosters collaboration, integration and innovation in the practice of medicine and beyond.

The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Delaware Valley University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Delaware Valley University.
Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.
Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-delaware-valley-university/.

Gain Clinical Experience in the Physician Assistant Program
Students in the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program at DelVal can expect to complete clinical experiences in a variety of clinical settings. The majority of rotations occur with regional health service partners who aim to provide an educational experience that includes a comprehensive, compassionate and patient-centered approach to care. Students and regional partners benefit from the potential for a core clinical network model. The program’s dedication to the Greater Delaware Valley region provides a strong pipeline for future employment opportunities.
The Delaware Valley University Physician Assistant Program is dedicated to the pillars of scholarship, service, and professionalism. The Program strives to train graduates who are highly competent and recognized as excellent clinicians and leaders in the complex health care environment. The Program is committed to producing graduates who provide compassionate, team-based, and evidence-based patient care, aware of and meeting the needs of society and their diverse communities.
Class of 2024 Profile
Overall acceptance rate = 4.3%
Academic & Experiential Preparation
- Grade Point Average (GPA)
Average |
n (%) |
|
Overall GPA |
3.2 |
100% |
Science GPA |
3.0 |
100% |
Post-Bacc GPA |
3.7 |
65% |
Graduate GPA |
3.5 |
30% |
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores
|
Average (Percentile) |
n (%) |
Analytical |
50th |
15% |
Quantitative |
40th |
15% |
Verbal |
70th |
15% |
- Relevant Experience
|
Hours |
Health Care & Patient Care |
6150 |
Shadowing |
390 |
Volunteering & Community Enrichment |
670 |
Ongoing Program Goals
- Attract, select, and retain highly qualified students
- Outcome #1: An incoming class profile, including GPA, GRE, and experience hours, will be published no later than December of each year
- Outcome #2: Maintain an attrition rate of less than 10%
Graduated Classes
Class of 2024
Class of 2025
Class of 2026
Maximum entering class size (as approved by ARC-PA)
20
20
20
Entering class size
#
#
#
Graduates
#
#
#
* Attrition rate
#
#
#
**Graduation rate
#
#
#
- Maintain first-time PANCE pass rate above national average
- Outcome #1: PANCE results will be published annually. A direct link to the NCCPA report will be included here no later than March, 2025 and the below table will be updated when data are available:
CLASS
NUMBER OF FIRST-TIME TEST TAKERS
PROGRAM FIRST-TIME TEST TAKER PASS RATE
NATIONAL FIRST-TIME TEST TAKER PASS RATE
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
- Outcome #1: PANCE results will be published annually. A direct link to the NCCPA report will be included here no later than March, 2025 and the below table will be updated when data are available:
- Prepare students to fulfill community health needs
-
Outcome #1: 100% of students will complete the Public Health course, demonstrating the ability to obtain and interpret local health indicators
-
Outcome #2: 100% of students will complete at least one service learning activity
-
- Provide students with experiential learning opportunities beginning in the first year of the program
- Outcome #1: 100% of students will participate in a first-year clinical experience
- Prepare students to provide evidence-based care to a wide range of patients in a multidisciplinary health care team
- Outcome #1: 100% of students will complete the Evidence-Based Practice course, demonstrating the ability to search for and appraise medical literature
- Outcome #2: 100% of students will complete an interprofessional education experience
- Outcome #3: 100% of students will have an interprofessional encounter in the clinical setting
The success of the program in achieving its goals and additional program outcomes of interest will be updated as the program’s development progresses and the first cohort of students matriculates and graduates.
PANCE Pass Rates:
Delaware Valley University anticipates graduating its first cohort of students in October, 2024. PANCE pass rates will be posted when available, no later than March, 2025.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion is essential to the PA profession and PA education as it enhances the quality of instruction and patient care. The Program aims to foster a welcoming, fair, and respectful environment, inclusive of all differences and individual identities. We strive to create a didactic and clinical education that is well-rounded and cultivates meaningful interactions and experiences with faculty, staff and preceptors with distinct backgrounds and perspectives. All students will graduate with the cross-cultural competencies necessary to effectively and respectfully treat diverse patients and function effectively on multicultural teams.
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is demonstrated in our holistic admissions process, curriculum, hiring practices, and thoughtful selection of clinical rotation sites. The Program has established goals specific to diversity and inclusion, as follows:
- Recruit and admit a diverse cohort of students
- Outcome #1: At least 50% of the incoming class will answer “yes” to at least one diversity indicator
- Outcome #2: At least 15% of interview questions will address principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Provide resources toward training culturally sensitive and responsive physician assistants
- Outcome #1: 100% of students will complete a dedicated course in Cultural Competence and Multicultural Healthcare
- Outcome #2: 100% of students will receive at least one DEI-focused certification during their time in the program
- Recruit a diverse team of culturally sensitive and responsive faculty and staff
- Outcome #1: At least 50% of faculty and staff will answer “yes” to at least one diversity indicator
- Outcome #2: 100% of faculty and staff will complete annual DEI training
- Shannon Diallo
- Jami Smith
- Liz Snodgrass
- Mary Schuler
- Adrian Banning
- Melissa Van Hoof