2027 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools in North Carolina
[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.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value physician assistant schools.
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2027 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools in North Carolina
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
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill tops our 2027 list of the best value physician assistant schools in North Carolina. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $105,700. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in physician assistant will find it at East Carolina University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,361, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $107,773. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Gardner Webb University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Boiling Springs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,750. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete the physician assistant program here. Physician Assistant graduates of Gardner Webb University earn a median of $110,028 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earned it the #4 place for physician assistant. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. In-state tuition and fees average $7,277, while out-of-state students pay about $24,152. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $23,013 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $46,164. That is a strong return on a $23,013 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington admits about 64% of applicants.
Wingate University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physician assistant, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Wingate, Wingate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,576. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $25,556. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Wingate University generally make around $112,813. Set against $25,556 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Campbell University landed the #6 spot for physician assistant value this year. Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Buies Creek. In-state tuition and fees average $41,600. Students borrow a median of $23,641 to complete the physician assistant program here. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $116,635. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Methodist University earned the #7 position for value in physician assistant this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Methodist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,250 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $27,604. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Methodist University generally make around $113,608. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Wake Forest University placed #8 among the best values for physician assistant. Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,642. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $21,577. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $106,711. That is a strong return on a $21,577 median debt. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
Duke University landed the #9 spot for physician assistant value this year. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. In-state tuition and fees average $68,758. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete the physician assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $118,707. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
High Point University placed #10 among the best values for physician assistant. Set in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,312. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $23,785. Physician Assistant graduates of High Point University earn a median of $113,352 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Elon University came in at #11 for value in physician assistant this year. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,958. Students borrow a median of $21,619 to complete the physician assistant program here. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $105,947. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
