by our College Data Analytics Team
[Physician Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/physician-assistant/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for physician assistant students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the physician assistant degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Dominican University, our #1 best value for physician assistant in Illinois. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,828. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $26,236. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $112,516. Set against $26,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Students looking for strong value in physician assistant will find it at University Of St Francis, which ranked #2. University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Joliet. In-state tuition and fees average $38,110. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Physician Assistant graduates of University Of St Francis earn a median of $81,259 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned it the #3 place for physician assistant. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $20,985. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $88,835. That is a strong return on a $20,985 median debt. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in physician assistant will find it at North Central College, which ranked #4. North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Naperville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,726. Students borrow a median of $25,699 to complete the physician assistant program here. Physician Assistant graduates of North Central College earn a median of $46,247 early in their careers. Set against $25,699 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Central College admits about 77% of applicants.
Northwestern University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the physician assistant program here. Physician Assistant graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $107,097 early in their careers. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois earned the #6 position for value in physician assistant this year. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois is a very large private for-profit school located in the suburb of Addison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,536. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $39,146. Physician Assistant graduates of Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois earn a median of $101,006 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.