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2023 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools

217 Ranked Colleges
11,351 Degrees Awarded
$19,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Physician Assistant Schools

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Physician Assistant Schools” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Physician Assistant is the 71st most popular major in the country with 11,351 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

This year’s “Best Value Physician Assistant Schools” ranking analyzed 217 colleges that offered a degree in physician assistant. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent physician assistant programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the physician assistant program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Physician Assistant Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Physician Assistant Rankings Other Ranking Categories

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Physician Assistant Schools” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Physician Assistant Schools

The colleges and universities below are the best for physician assistant students.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Physician Assistant

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools list. UT Health San Antonio is a small public school situated in San Antonio, Texas. It awarded 44 ’s physician assistant degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Health San Antonio, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Physician Assistant Schools” ranking.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Physician Assistant Report

2

Out of the 217 schools in the Best Value Physician Assistant Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center landed the #2 spot on the list. Dallas, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physician assistant degrees to 56 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Southwestern, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Physician Assistant Schools” ranking.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Physician Assistant Report

3
Harding crest
Harding University
Searcy, Arkansas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harding University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools list. Harding is located in Searcy, Arkansas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 35 ’s physician assistant degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $19,456 for Physician Assistant students per year to attend Harding.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physician Assistant at Harding

4

Out of the 217 schools in the Best Value Physician Assistant Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center landed the #4 spot on the list. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a public institution located in Lubbock, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 57 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our physician assistant students list, TTUHSC has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Physician Assistant Schools” ranking.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full TTUHSC Physician Assistant Report

5

Out of the 217 schools in the Best Value Physician Assistant Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a public institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 29 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - La Crosse is also in the top of our “Best Physician Assistant Schools” ranking. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is $14,654 for physician assistant students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Physician Assistant Report

6

With a ranking of #6, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools list. Little Rock, Arkansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physician assistant degrees to 39 students in 2020-2021.

UAMS also took the #22 spot in our “Best Physician Assistant Schools” ranking.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physician Assistant at UAMS

7

The University of Texas Medical Branch ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Physician Assistant Schools list. UTMB Galveston is a small school located in Galveston, Texas that handed out 88 ’s physician assistant degrees in 2020-2021.

UTMB Galveston also made our “Best Physician Assistant Schools” list, coming in at #5.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full The University of Texas Medical Branch Physician Assistant Report

8
Bethel University Minnesota crest
Bethel University Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Bethel University Minnesota came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physician Assistant Schools ranking. Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 30 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $28,178 for physician assistant students per year to attend Bethel University Minnesota.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full Bethel University Minnesota Physician Assistant Report

9

Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools ranking. Missouri State is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $16,718 for Physician Assistant students per year to attend Missouri State University - Springfield.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Physician Assistant at Missouri State

10
Touro crest
Touro College
New York, New York

Touro College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Physician Assistant Schools list. This fairly large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 175 ’s physician assistant degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Touro College is $22,259 for physician assistant students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Full Touro Physician Assistant Report

11

With a ranking of #11, Western University of Health Sciences did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools list. Located in Pomona, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 95 degrees to qualified ’s physician assistant students in 2020-2021.

Western University of Health Sciences did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Physician Assistant Schools” list.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Western University of Health Sciences Physician Assistant Report

12

University of Nebraska Medical Center came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physician Assistant Schools ranking. University of Nebraska Medical Center is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 72 ’s physician assistant degrees to qualified students.

UNMC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Physician Assistant Schools” list.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 2 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physician Assistant at UNMC

13
Milligan crest
Milligan University
Milligan College, Tennessee

Milligan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools ranking, coming in at #13. Milligan is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Milligan College, Tennessee. It awarded 25 ’s physician assistant degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Milligan University is $20,690 for physician assistant students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Physician Assistant at Milligan

13
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University of Lynchburg
Lynchburg, Virginia

University of Lynchburg landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools ranking. Lynchburg is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 324 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $23,134 for Physician Assistant students per year to attend University of Lynchburg.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physician Assistant at Lynchburg

15
Marywood crest
Marywood University
Scranton, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #15, Marywood University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools list. Scranton, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physician assistant degrees to 53 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $20,225 for physician assistant students per year to attend Marywood.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physician Assistant at Marywood

16
University of Saint Francis crest
University of St Francis
Joliet, Illinois

University of St Francis landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools ranking. This small school is located in Joliet, Illinois, and it awarded 35 ’s physician assistant degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Saint Francis is $17,102 for Physician Assistant students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physician Assistant at University of Saint Francis

17

Concordia University, Wisconsin ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Physician Assistant Schools list. Concordia University, Wisconsin is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Mequon, Wisconsin. It awarded 30 ’s physician assistant degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $22,996 for physician assistant students per year to attend Concordia University, Wisconsin.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physician Assistant at Concordia University, Wisconsin

18
Stephens crest
Stephens College
Columbia, Missouri

Stephens College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools ranking, coming in at #18. Stephens College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 29 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Stephens College is $22,460 for Physician Assistant students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Stephens Physician Assistant Report

19

Baldwin Wallace University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physician Assistant Schools ranking. Located in Berea, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 30 diplomas to qualified ’s physician assistant students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Baldwin Wallace University is $25,361 for physician assistant students.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physician Assistant at Baldwin Wallace College

20
MUSC crest
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina

With a ranking of #20, Medical University of South Carolina did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools list. MUSC is located in Charleston, South Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 58 ’s physician assistant degrees to qualified students.

MUSC also made our “Best Physician Assistant Schools” list, coming in at #7.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Physician Assistant at MUSC

21
Thomas Jefferson University crest
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Thomas Jefferson University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Physician Assistant Schools list. Thomas Jefferson University is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 121 ’s physician assistant degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Thomas Jefferson University, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Physician Assistant Schools” ranking. It costs about $26,569 for Physician Assistant students per year to attend Thomas Jefferson University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Thomas Jefferson University Physician Assistant Report

22
Cumberlands crest
University of the Cumberlands
Williamsburg, Kentucky

University of the Cumberlands landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools ranking. Cumberlands is a fairly large school located in Williamsburg, Kentucky that handed out 28 ’s physician assistant degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Cumberlands is $13,476 for Physician Assistant students.

Full University of the Cumberlands Physician Assistant Report

23
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Gardner - Webb University
Boiling Springs, North Carolina

Gardner - Webb University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Physician Assistant Schools list. Gardner - Webb is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. It awarded 31 ’s physician assistant degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Gardner - Webb is $20,776 for Physician Assistant students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Gardner - Webb University Physician Assistant Report

24

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools ranking, coming in at #24. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a large school located in Edinburg, Texas that handed out 117 ’s physician assistant degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UT Rio Grande Valley is $3,743 for physician assistant students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physician Assistant at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

25
Top 15% in overall quality
$70,088 Average Early-Career Earnings

University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools ranking, coming in at #25. This small school is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and it awarded 69 ’s physician assistant degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UOHSC is also in the top of our “Best Physician Assistant Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Physician Assistant at University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center

Rest of the Best 33 in Best Value Physician Assistant Schools

Not only did these schools make the top 33 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
Wingate crest
Wingate University
Wingate, North Carolina
27
28
29
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University of South Dakota
Vermillion, South Dakota
30
Carroll U crest
Carroll University
Waukesha, Wisconsin
31
OCU crest
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
32
SUNY Upstate Medical University crest
Upstate Medical University
Syracuse, New York
33
St. Kate's crest
St Catherine University
Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Notes and References

References

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