North Greenville University PA Program Explained (Simply)

Applying to PA school feels like trying to win the lottery while doing a rubik’s cube blindfolded. You've got the GRE, the CASPA mess, and that looming fear of "what if I don't get in?"

If you’re looking at South Carolina, the North Greenville University PA program—officially the Master of Medical Science in PA Medicine—is likely on your radar. It’s a small, private, Christ-centered program tucked away in Greer, far from the chaotic energy of a massive medical center. Honestly, it’s a bit of a hidden gem for people who want to learn medicine without feeling like just another face in a lecture hall of 200 people.

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What Most People Get Wrong About NGU PA

A lot of applicants assume a smaller school means fewer opportunities or lower standards. That's just not the case here. NGU carries Accreditation-Continued status from the ARC-PA. Basically, that’s the "gold star" of accreditation. They aren't on probation, and they aren't "provisional" anymore. Their next big check-up isn't until 2030.

Also, don't let the "North Greenville" name fool you into thinking you'll be up in Tigerville with the undergraduates. The PA program lives at the Tim Brashier Campus in Greer. It’s much closer to the actual clinical action in Greenville and Spartanburg.

The Nitty Gritty: Admissions and Stats

Let’s be real—you want to know if you can actually get in. NGU is competitive, but they look at the "whole human," not just a spreadsheet.

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• GPA Requirements: You need at least a 3.3 cumulative GPA. Note: a B- is not a B in their eyes.
• The GRE: Interestingly, they’ve moved away from the GRE requirement for many applicants, focusing more on your actual performance in prerequisite sciences.
• Clinical Hours: They value paid healthcare experience. Shadowing is great, but they want to see that you’ve actually touched a patient or two.
• The References: You need three. One should be professional, and they specifically like to see a reference from a minister or someone who can speak to your character.

The class size is capped at 30 students. That is tiny. For comparison, some programs cram in 100+ students. With an 8.6:1 student-to-faculty ratio, you can't really hide in the back of the room. Your professors will know your name, your strengths, and exactly when you didn't do the reading.

PANCE Pass Rates: Does It Work?

All the support in the world doesn't matter if you can't pass the boards. The Class of 2025 hit a 100% first-time pass rate on the PANCE. Their five-year average is sitting around 97%. Those are heavy-hitter numbers.

A Curriculum That Isn't Just Memorizing PowerPoints

NGU uses Problem-Based Learning (PBL). Instead of just sitting through eight hours of "Death by PowerPoint," you're given a patient case. You have to figure out what's wrong, what tests to order, and how to treat it. It’s messy and frustrating at first, but it mimics how a real clinic works.

The program is 24 months long.
12 months of didactic (classroom) and 12 months of clinical (rotations).

The "Secret Sauce" in Psychiatry

Something unique NGU started doing is a partnership with MomentMD. They realized students were terrified of their psychiatry rotations. To fix that, they added a three-day "virtual clinical experience" before the actual rotation. You get to observe real psychiatric encounters and talk to preceptors before you're ever expected to do it yourself. It’s a huge confidence booster.

What It Actually Costs

Let's talk money because PA school is an investment that hurts the bank account.

For the Class of 2026, tuition is roughly $18,850 per semester. Total tuition for the whole two-year ride is about $113,100.
For the Class of 2027, it bumps up to $19,900 per semester (roughly $119,400 total).

That doesn't include living costs. NGU estimates you'll need another $30k-$40k a year for rent, food, and the massive amount of gas you'll burn driving to clinical sites.

The Clinical Year: Where the Rubber Meets the Road

You’ll go through 10 rotations (SCPEs).

1. Family Medicine
2. Internal Medicine
3. Pediatrics
4. Women’s Health
5. Emergency Medicine
6. Surgery
7. Behavioral Health
8. Elective I (usually something like Urgent Care)
9. Elective II (often focused on Primary Care)
10. Elective III (your choice)

They even offer International Clerkships. If you have a heart for mission work, you can actually do one of your rotations in a developing country. It’s a big part of their identity as a Christian university.

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Is This Program Right For You?

If you want a high-tech, big-city, secular vibe where you're anonymous, NGU will probably feel weird to you. It’s a faith-integrated program. They talk about "calling" and "service" a lot.

But if you want a tight-knit cohort where the faculty actually cares if you're drowning in the material, it’s a top-tier choice. The Greer location gives you access to the Prisma Health and Bon Secours systems, which are massive healthcare hubs in the Southeast.

Actionable Next Steps

1. Check your GPA: If you’re below that 3.3 mark, look into NGU's Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences. It’s a "bridge" program designed to help you prove you can handle the rigor of PA school.
2. Attend an Info Session: They have sessions coming up in February, March, and April 2026. Some are in-person in Greer, and some are virtual.
3. Audit your hours: Ensure your "Patient Care Experience" (PCE) is actually hands-on. NGU prefers depth over just having a high number of observation hours.
4. Secure your references: Since they require a personal/character reference (often a minister), start building that relationship now if you haven't already.
5. Prep your CASPA: NGU doesn't have a supplemental application, so your main CASPA essay needs to be incredible. Focus on your desire to serve the underserved, as that aligns perfectly with their mission.

The north greenville university pa program isn't just about getting those two letters after your name; it’s about a very specific type of community-focused medical education. If that aligns with your values, it's time to start that application.