Elon University Doubles Physician Assistant Class, Adds Programs in Charlotte
Elon University has doubled its physician assistant class size from 38 to 76 students. The school is launching several new graduate programs in Charlotte to address workforce shortages across North…
Elon University has doubled its physician assistant class size from 38 to 76 students. The school is launching several new graduate programs in Charlotte to address workforce shortages across North Carolina and the Southeast. These additions bring a second PA program, a full-time law program, and a Master of Science in Business Analytics Flex Program to Charlotte.
Health care, law, and behavioral health professions face ongoing shortages. The latest PA cohort is the largest in the program's history.
"Pursuing growth now allows us to serve regional needs while also staying true to our tradition of innovation and student-centered academic excellence," says Allie Duffney, dean of graduate admissions, according to elon.edu.
Elon University Continues to Grow
The school plans to enroll an inaugural PA class on the Charlotte campus in January 2027, pending accreditation-provisional review by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant. A new Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program will welcome its first cohort in fall 2026. This will take place on both the main and Charlotte campuses.
"Mental health care is no longer optional; it is essential," says Judy Folmar, interim program director and chair of the clinical mental health counseling program. "Communities across North Carolina and the nation are facing rising rates of anxiety, depression, trauma, and substance use while the supply of licensed counselors has not kept pace."
The counseling program will run in a 21-month accelerated hybrid format. It includes 60 credits designed to prepare graduates for licensure. The MSBA Flex Program in Charlotte targets working professionals and emphasizes AI-informed entrepreneurship.
"Organizations are undergoing rapid digital transformation and increasingly rely on data and AI to make faster, higher-stakes decisions," says Mark Kurt, associate dean for the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. "The MSBA Flex Program in Charlotte equips working professionals with applied analytics and AI skills plus the leadership and ethical frameworks needed to translate data into responsible, measurable business outcomes — without pausing their careers."
The law school expanded its presence in Charlotte through a part-time Flex Program in 2024. That program serves working professionals and place-bound students. The school has applied to the American Bar Association to start a full-time law program in Charlotte in fall 2027.
The Boldly Elon Strategic Plan directs this expansion, investing in programs where student interest intersects with societal need. The institution launched its MBA in 1984. Since then, it has grown its offerings across health sciences, business, counseling, and legal education over four decades.
