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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes 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 Yale University, our #1 best value for physician assistant in Connecticut. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,250 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $14,357. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $124,979. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in physician assistant will find it at University Of Bridgeport, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Bridgeport, University Of Bridgeport is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,760. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $28,601. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from University Of Bridgeport generally make around $126,904. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Bridgeport admits about 83% of applicants.
Saint Joseph College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Saint Joseph College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of West Hartford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,278. Students borrow a median of $27,798 to complete the physician assistant program here. Physician Assistant graduates of Saint Joseph College earn a median of $133,012 early in their careers. Set against $27,798 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Joseph College admits about 79% of applicants.
University Of New Haven came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Set in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,332. Students borrow a median of $26,244 to complete the physician assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from University Of New Haven generally make around $49,615. Set against $26,244 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Quinnipiac University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Set in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,480. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $26,731. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Quinnipiac University generally make around $106,098. That is a strong return on a $26,731 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Sacred Heart University came in at #6 for value in physician assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,404. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $22,813 in student loans. Physician Assistant graduates of Sacred Heart University earn a median of $72,180 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,813 median debt. Sacred Heart University admits about 65% of applicants.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, 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.