Physician Assistant Studies

Cost to attend & financial aid

Detailed cost breakdown

Cost info

The Cashier's Office determines refund deadlines for students withdrawing from the program.

Financial aid & assistance for graduate students

Graduate school is an investment in your future. At UWL, we offer many types of financial support to help you make that investment.

Application Fee Assistance for McNair Scholars

UWL will pay the graduate school application fee for McNair Scholars. To receive this benefit, request an application fee waiver form from your undergraduate McNair Scholars office, or download a copy. Have the form signed by your McNair Program Director and email your completed form directly to admissions@uwlax.edu or mail it to the address below.

Then, when completing the UW System application, simply skip the application fee payment section. Once we receive your form, your application will be updated in our system to confirm the payment requirement has been completed.

Graduate Admissions Office
1725 State Street
La Crosse, WI 54601

Advanced Opportunity Program (AOP) Grants

AOP Grants recognize strong academic achievement and potential among newly admitted or continuing students. These grants provide tuition support for disadvantaged graduate students. A student can be considered disadvantaged if they meet any of the criteria below:

Demonstrated financial need
First generation college student
Experienced disadvantages or adversity that have impacted their educational opportunities

Award recipients must be US citizens or permanent residents, and must be Wisconsin residents for tuition purposes. Finally, AOP awards are competitive and need-based (FAFSA required).

Receiving an AOP award will require Wisconsin residency for tuition purposes, so please be sure to answer the eApp questions related to residency very carefully if you intend to apply for AOP.

AOP applications will be accepted starting in October of each academic year and evaluated in March; notifications of awards will typically be sent by late March, although any delays in the FAFSA system will delay this timeline. Contact Graduate & Extended Learning for more information.

Student Employment

Graduate students are eligible for part-time employment as student workers, the same as undergraduate students. Graduate students are encouraged to carefully consider the timing and workload of employment, to ensure their academic success.

Student Employment does not make you eligible for health insurance through the university. Student employment positions are paid hourly, and the rate of pay differs across positions. Open positions are listed online in Handshake.

Scholarships

UWL Foundation Scholarships

Incoming and continuing UWL students are invited to take advantage of a new online system to apply for scholarships. Students can search and apply for any of the more than 300 scholarships available through the UWL Foundation. For further information please visit – UWL Foundation Scholarships

Robert Adams Physician Assistant Scholarship (1,000)
Applicant/Recipient must be pursuing a graduate degree in Physician Assistant Studies and have been accepted into the Physician Assistant Program at UWL.

General UWL Foundation Scholarships applicable to HP Dept grad students

UWL Alumni Association Membership Committee Alumni Network Scholarships ($1,000)
Applicant/Recipient must be a UWL alum who is also a member of the UWL Alumni Association; or a child, grandchild, sibling, niece or nephew of a UWL alum who is also a member of the UWL Alumni Association
UWL Alumni Association Scholarship ($1,000)
UWL alum or child or grandchild of an alum
American Association of University Women Scholarship ($1,000)
Established by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) to recognize academic excellence. (The criteria describes undergraduates recipients but a health professions graduate student with a compelling story has received this in the past.)
Lillian Neale Campbell Scholarship Fund (50 x $1,000)
Mrs. Campbell created this fund to support students enrolled in educational programs which impact the care and treatment of persons with physical disabilities. Recipient must be accepted into a program involving the care and treatment of persons with physical disabilities, i.e., Adapted Physical Education, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, or Therapeutic Recreation
Jean L. Foss & Norene A. Smith Organization for Campus Women (OCW) Scholarship ($1,000)
Established by the OCW in 1985 to assist non-traditional women students.
Gund Family Scholarship (at least $500/ may be renewable)
Established by the Gund family which is an old established family in La Crosse to support students at UWL.
Robert Jed Huff Memorial Scholarship (at least $500)
Established by William and Marilyn Huff Nieckarz. Fund is established in memory of Marilyn's son, who attended UW-La Crosse.
Col. Edwin L. Overholt, M.D., Family Scholarship for Wisconsin Veterans Fund ($1,000)
This scholarship was established in 2010 by the Overholt Family in honor and memory of their father, Dr. Edwin L. Overholt. (This unique scholarship is specifically targeted for WI veterans enrolled in a program related to a healthcare)
Rotary Works Foundation Scholarship ($1,000)
This award is for area high school graduates funded by a grant from the Rotary Works Foundation. (This scholarship criteria includes "graduate of Central, Logan, Aquinas, Onalaska, Holmen, West Salem, Luther or La Crescent high schools")
Teamsters Brewery Workers/Local 695 Scholarship ($200)
Established to provide financial assistance to sons and daughters of Local 1081 members.
Donald P. Weber Veterans Memorial Scholarship ($1,000)
Established in 2008 by Donald J. and Roxanne Weber of La Crosse, Wisconsin, in honor of Don's father, Donald P. Weber. Both Weber men are veterans of the Armed Forces with Donald P. serving in WWII and Donald J. in Vietnam. American Veterans have selflessly protected and defended us through the years. Without them, we would not be able to enjoy the freedoms we have today. This fund was established to support Wisconsin veterans who want to attend a UW System institution of higher learning.

For more information please visit UW-La Crosse Foundation Scholarships

Additional Scholarships

PAF PA Student Scholarship
Over the years, the Physician Associate Foundation (PAF) has awarded more than $2.7 million in scholarships to PA students, benefitting nearly 1,600 future PAs. Scholarships are awarded based on the availability of funds provided through contributions from AAPA members, other individuals, and corporate partners.
WAPA Legacy Committee PA Student Scholarship
The WAPA Legacy Committee Scholarship Program provides scholarships to students currently enrolled in a Wisconsin PA Program.
MAPA PA Student Scholarship
MAPA offers scholarships to first-year PA students to help offset the high cost of education. Recognizing the financial challenges students face while preparing for their careers, MAPA has awarded scholarships of up to $3,000 per year to eligible first-year PA students in recent years.

Veteran Benefits

Student veterans and students who are the dependents of veterans (child or spouse) may be eligible for veteran educational benefits. These can provide significant financial assistance towards educational expenses. The UWL Veteran & Military Connection office can help you with educational benefits, as well as with other aspects of the transition from military to university life.

Some veteran educational benefits require Wisconsin residency for tuition purposes, so be sure to answer eApp questions related to residency very carefully if you intend to use veteran benefits to help fund your graduate studies.

Federal Education Loans

Graduate students may be eligible to borrow under the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan program to assist with the cost of their attendance. The program requires a completed FAFSA. Students who anticipate working in health, education, public service and/or non-profit fields should also understand options for Student Loan Forgiveness.

While UWL encourages students to borrow only ‘what they need,’ loans can ease the burden of paying for graduate education and may be a worthwhile investment. Connect with the Financial Aid Office to learn more and explore your options.

Federal loan eligibility at UWL requires enrollment in at least 5 credits during the term the loan is requested, including summer terms.

Private Student Loans

Students who need additional funds for education, beyond what was awarded on their financial aid award letter, might consider a private student loan. These loans are private educational loans from a lender and are not guaranteed by the federal government. Approval of a private student loan is based on creditworthiness. Most students will require a co-signer.

Employer Support

An increasing number of employers are investing in the careers of their employees by providing funding for graduate tuition. Not sure if your workplace offers this type of support? Check out this blog post for advice about asking your employer for tuition reimbursement.

At UWL, employees working at least half-time may be eligible tuition support through the Employee Educational Assistance Program.

Emergency Resources

The Office of Student Life has compiled a wide range of resources related to supporting students facing financial difficulties and other challenges. Many of these apply most directly to on-campus students.