At The College of Idaho, we prioritize keeping education affordable so financial barriers don’t stop you from earning your Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree. Since 1891, we’ve followed our founding principle from President William Judson Boone: “Let them come, let them all come, and we will see what they can do.” We priced our online DMSc program with this in mind — tuition is below the national average for similar programs, ensuring you can focus on creating significant change in healthcare as a working physician assistant/associate (PA).
Explore tuition details, available scholarships, financial aid options and other online DMSc costs to help you plan your investment in your future.
2024-2025 Online DMSc Tuition
The Doctor of Medical Science tuition amount varies based on the pathway you complete in the post-professional program for PAs. Each concentration meets the needs of PAs at different career stages and consists of 36 credit hours that you can finish in 9-18 months. Learn more about our six online DMSc concentrations.
Note: 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).
Health Professions Education Track: 18 Months
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.
- 2024-2025 Tuition: $25,050
- Graduate Program and Technology Fee: $50 per 10-week block
Health System Leadership Track: 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.
- 2024-2025 Tuition: $25,050
- Graduate Program and Technology Fee: $50 per 10-week block
Lifestyle Medicine & Advanced Clinical Practice Track: 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.
- 2024-2025 Tuition: $25,050
- Graduate Program and Technology Fee: $50 per 10-week block
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:
- Certificate eligibility requirements include being a licensed or certified healthcare professional.
- Certificate requires a credentialing exam and/or completion of continuing education (CE)/continuing medical education (CME) hours.
- If a credential only requires completion of CE/CME hours, the requirement is for 30 or more CE/CME hours
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.
Early Career PA Accelerated Pathway: 12 Months
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.
- 2024-2025 Tuition: $20,040
- Graduate Program and Technology Fee: $50 per 10-week block
Experienced PA Educator Accelerated Pathway: 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.
- 2024-2025 Tuition: $20,040
- Graduate Program and Technology Fee: $50 per 10-week block
PA Fellow Accelerated Pathway: 9 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.
- 2024-2025 Tuition: $18,000
- Graduate Program and Technology Fee: $50 per block
Financial Aid
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.
Scholarships
The College of Idaho offers Doctor of Medical Science tuition scholarships to the following students:
- Active U.S. military service members, reservists, National Guard members and veterans
- Alumni of, faculty currently teaching in and eligible preceptors of the Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program at The College of Idaho and Idaho State University
- Alumni of, faculty currently teaching in and eligible preceptors of the University of Washington MEDEX Northwest PA program
- Employees of health organizations under a partnership agreement with The College of Idaho
- Full-time employees of The College of Idaho
Additional Cost Information
Review more details about The College of Idaho’s DMSc cost, fees, payment plans and tuition refunds.
Once accepted into the program, students must pay a one-time, non-refundable matriculation deposit of $300 to secure their spot. This deposit is credited toward their first term's tuition.
Other Costs
Textbooks
We require Doctor of Medical Science 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 DMSc program students.
Student Health Insurance
All graduate students enrolled in a residential certificate, master’s or doctoral program at The College of Idaho must have health insurance coverage. Students enrolled exclusively in online programs, such as the online DMSc program, are encouraged but not mandated to have health insurance unless their immigration status requires it.
Online DMSc students can purchase student health insurance through The College of Idaho. The health insurance premium is $2,761 for the 2024-2025 plan year.
TimelyCare
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:
- Medical: 24/7 on-demand and scheduled medical visits.
- Talk Now: On-demand mental health support available 24/7.
- Health Coaching: Virtual appointments with certified health coaches.
- Scheduled Counseling: Meetings with local licensed counselors.
- Psychiatry: No-cost psychiatric services.
Payment Options
Upon enrollment in the DMSc program, 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 Doctor of Medical Science tuition payment, take the following steps:
- Pay the full-term balance on or before the first day of class.
- Major credit cards are accepted. The Business Office also accepts cash or checks delivered in person or via mail. Learn how to make an online payment.
- For international students, we partnered with TransferMate to streamline payments in their local currency from nearly any country. International payments are integrated into the Bill+Payment checkout process.
- Sign up for interest-free monthly payments through Nelnet, our payment plan provider.
- Nelnet charges a single plan fee of $55 per semester, and students can apply online.
- The Business Office reserves the right to discontinue or refuse the Nelnet payment plan option to students with poor credit history at The College of Idaho.
- Obtain additional loan funds through a private student loan. Email the Financial Aid Department at finaid@collegeofidaho.edu with any questions.
Note: The College of Idaho reserves the right to charge interest on all unpaid balances at 1.5% per month. Interest is not charged to accounts enrolled in Nelnet.
Tuition Refunds
The College of Idaho adheres to a fair and equitable refund policy consistent with the U.S. Department of Education's requirements. For information on our refund policy when students officially withdraw from any program or course, review the Graduate Catalog or contact the Business Office at businessoffice@collegeofidaho.edu or 208-459-5227.
Institutional Refund Policy
Dropping a Course
Students who drop a course during the current term but remain actively enrolled will receive:
- A 100% refund if they drop a course on or before the Last Day to Drop
- A 50% refund if they drop a course after the Last Day to Drop but before the 15th day of the term/semester
- A 0% refund if they drop a course on or after the 15th calendar day of the term/semester
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.
Federal Refund Policy
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. Review “Return of Title IV Funds” for more information.
Credit Balance Refunds
If financial aid awards create a credit on a student’s account, a refund check is sent to the student's mailing address.
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