by our College Data Analytics Team
[Physician Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/physician-assistant/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong physician assistant education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for physician assistant students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physician assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Utah Valley University earned the #1 spot for value among physician assistant schools in Utah. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $16,478. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $51,242. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in physician assistant will find it at Weber State University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,557, while out-of-state students pay about $17,545. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $17,926 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $54,387. Set against $17,926 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Utah came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value physician assistant schools. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,496 to complete the physician assistant program here. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $115,329. That is a strong return on a $25,496 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
This list is compiled 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.