Your investment here is one that pays off for a lifetime. The College of Idaho delivers the kind of personal, high-impact education that leads to real-world results. And while our outcomes rival the best, our graduation tuition is below the national average for similar programs— and includes personalized experiences, small classes and a support system unlike any other.
Explore tuition, scholarships, and resources for paying for graduate school that set us apart and help you plan your investment in your future.
The Health Professions Education pathway is ideal for PAs looking to advance their teaching skills or step into educational leadership roles. Students complete 36 credit hours in 18 months.
For PAs aiming to improve healthcare delivery or transition into leadership roles, the 36-credit hour Health System Leadership pathway enables students to earn their DMSc degree in 18 months.
The Lifestyle Medicine & Advanced Clinical Practice pathway is ideal for a clinical PA in any stage of their career seeking to explore evidence-based strategies for disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention and provider well-being. Students complete 36 credit hours in 18 months.
To complete this track, students must identify a clinical certificate that they are qualified to earn and prepared to work towards during their enrollment in the DMSc program. Students will declare the certificate before they begin their concentration courses. To meet the requirements for this track, the PA-qualified external clinical certification must meet the following criteria:
Students do not need to complete the PA-qualified external certification requirements as part of their DMSc graduation requirements, but rather document progress working towards the certification. All expenses incurred as part of the external PA-qualified certificate, including the cost of required CME, and application and exam fees, are paid by the student separate from their DMSc tuition.
The Early Career PA concentration is for PAs who completed their PA program within the last two years and are looking to fast-track their careers with a DMSc degree. Students receive 12 credits of advanced standing based on their clinical and academic experiences, allowing them to complete the final 24 credit hours in the program in 12 months.
Designed for PA faculty with at least five years of full-time teaching experience at an ARC-PA-accredited program, the Experienced PA Educator pathway allows educators to expand their knowledge and leadership skills. Students earn 12 credits of advanced standing for their professional background and complete 24 credit hours in 12 months.
PAs who are currently enrolled in or have completed an eligible fellowship within the past two years can accelerate their DMSc journey through the PA Fellow concentration. Students receive 18 credits of advanced standing based on their didactic and clinical fellowship work and can complete the remaining 18 credit hours in nine months.
The College of Idaho’s online Doctor of Medical Science tuition and fees are due before or on the first day of class. The DMSc program is a semester-based program (Fall: July-December and Spring: January-May). Each 20-week semester is broken into two 10-week course blocks. If you begin the degree program in the second 10-week block, tuition and fees will be due on or before the first day of class for your initial term, but then will be due on or before the first day of the semester thereafter (e.g. if you begin the DMSc program during Fall Block 2, all courses taken in Spring Block 1 and Spring Block 2 must be paid on the first day of the spring semester). The amounts below reflect the approximate total cost of the graduate degree program based on the current tuition and fees schedules. If your degree program spans more than one academic year, tuition and fees in future academic years are subject to change. The upcoming year’s tuition and fees schedules are posted in late spring.
Students can qualify for federal financial assistance based on the information they submit in their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To learn more about financial aid options, explore our financial resources for graduate students or contact Financial Aid Services at finaid@collegeofidaho.edu or 208-459-5380.
There’s more to know about paying for graduate school beyond tuition information. From offering student-centered payment plans to course-specific expenses and refund policies, our goal is to make the process clear and manageable. As you review the details in the next section, know we’re here to support you every step of the way.
We require graduate students to purchase textbooks for their courses. Students may order books from The College of Idaho's online bookstore, which MBS Direct manages. Students with book vouchers can use them through MBS Direct. Alternatively, students can order or rent books from other sources, such as Amazon, independent booksellers, textbook sites like textbooks.com or ecampus.com or directly from publishers. Before purchasing, students should carefully review book requirements and ensure they obtain the correct edition, using the ISBN for accuracy.
Note: The Cruzen-Murray Library does not endorse any of the retailers listed. We are providing this information for the benefit of students.
All graduate students enrolled in a residential certificate, master’s or doctoral program at The College of Idaho, or participating in a College athletic program, must have health insurance coverage. Students enrolled in a hybrid program or an exclusively online program are encouraged but not mandated to have health insurance unless their immigration status requires it.
Graduate students can purchase student health insurance through The College of Idaho. The health insurance premium is $2,492 for the 2025-2026 plan year.
We create an inclusive environment where students can access the medical and psychological support they need to make the most of their graduate experience. Therefore, as part of the Graduate Program and Technology fee, all graduate students can get 24/7, on-demand medical and mental health assistance from counselors, doctors, nurse practitioners and more.
Graduate students enrolled at The College of Idaho receive 12 free virtual sessions a year with TimelyCare. Examples of the services provided include:
Upon enrollment, students can access financial account and payment information online through Self Service. They can view real-time account balances, charges, payments and statements and make payments online via credit card or e-check. The payment terms and options simplify the payment process, ensuring students can focus on classes instead of financial concerns.
To make a tuition payment, take the following steps:
NOTE: The College reserves the right to charge interest on all unpaid balances at a rate of 1.5% per month. Interest is not charged to accounts enrolled in Nelnet.
Effective April 1, 2025, a credit card convenience fee will be applied to all student account payments:
Note: This fee is charged to cover the processing costs associated with credit card payments. It does not apply to other payment forms such as ACH, cash or checks.
Dropping a Course
Students who drop a course during the current term but remain actively enrolled will receive:
Withdrawing From a Program
Students who withdraw from all courses by the Last Day to Drop for the term receive a 100% refund of tuition and class fees. Those who withdraw after the Last Day to Drop but on or before the 60% point in time of the term/semester, calculated using calendar days, receive a refund based on the total payment on the account from all sources, minus the charges for tuition and fees for the enrollment period.
Tuition is prorated for the attendance period. Student fees are non-refundable. Funds are returned to the federal programs, institutional programs, outside scholarships and then to the student. Students who withdraw after the 60% point of the term/semester do not receive a refund.
Under the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, if a student withdraws from all courses on or before the 60% point in time of the term/semester, calculated by calendar days, The College of Idaho must return a portion of the Title IV funds received, specifically funds from Federal Unsubsidized Loans for graduate programs. Withdrawn students receive a copy of the return calculation and an itemized list of returns to the various fund accounts.
If financial aid awards create a credit on a student’s account, a refund check is sent to the student's mailing address.
Director of Doctor of Medical Science Program
Whether you’re a new PA focused on delivering high-quality care or a seasoned professional ready to take on leadership or teaching roles, the online DMSc degree program prepares you to implement real change in healthcare.
With competitive tuition rates and a variety of funding options, the cost of The College of Idaho’s DMSc program reflects our commitment to making a high-quality education accessible for full-time PAs. Start your journey toward professional growth and leadership — apply today.
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