2026 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools in the Far Western Region
[Physician Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/physician-assistant/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 27 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value physician assistant schools.
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2026 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the physician assistant degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Physician Assistant Schools
Leading the list is Stanford University, our #1 best value for physician assistant in the Far Western Region. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,910. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Physician Assistant graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
Moreno Valley College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physician assistant, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,428, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $12,643 in student loans. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $45,515. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned it the #3 place for physician assistant. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $31,625. Physician Assistant graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $131,897 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Students looking for strong value in physician assistant will find it at California State University Monterey Bay, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,779 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,379. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $14,622 in student loans. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $49,032. Set against $14,622 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in physician assistant will find it at University Of Nevada Reno, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Reno, University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,578 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,720. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $19,918. Physician Assistant graduates of University Of Nevada Reno earn a median of $50,691 early in their careers. Set against $19,918 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nevada Reno admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of The Pacific earned the #6 position for value in physician assistant this year. Located in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,080. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $23,514 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from University Of The Pacific generally make around $141,691. That is a strong return on a $23,514 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
California Baptist University came in at #7 for value in physician assistant this year. Set in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,228. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $28,169. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from California Baptist University generally make around $95,454. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Charles R Drew University Of Medicine And Science landed the #8 spot for physician assistant value this year. Located in the suburb of Los Angeles, Charles R Drew University Of Medicine And Science is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,000. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Charles R Drew University Of Medicine And Science generally make around $100,375. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Charles R Drew University Of Medicine And Science admits about 39% of applicants.
George Fox University landed the #9 spot for physician assistant value this year. George Fox University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Newberg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,320. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $25,324. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $52,898. Set against $25,324 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. George Fox University admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Southern California came in at #10 for value in physician assistant this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $129,633. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
Pacific University came in at #11 for value in physician assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Forest Grove, Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,374. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $26,170 in student loans. Physician Assistant graduates of Pacific University earn a median of $117,165 early in their careers. Set against $26,170 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Southern California University Of Health Sciences ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Southern California University Of Health Sciences is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Whittier. Students from in state pay about $14,390 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,378 to complete the physician assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Southern California University Of Health Sciences generally make around $122,512. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chapman University placed #13 among the best values for physician assistant. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,984. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $21,657. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $124,016. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Point Loma Nazarene University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Set in the city of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $46,250. Students borrow a median of $26,362 to complete the physician assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Point Loma Nazarene University generally make around $29,523. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Point Loma Nazarene University admits about 84% of applicants.
Dominican University Of California ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Set in the city of San Rafael, Dominican University Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $52,161 in tuition and fees. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Dominican University Of California generally make around $144,840. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Dominican University Of California admits about 84% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
