2026 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools in Tennessee
[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.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value physician assistant schools.
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2026 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools in Tennessee
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
Christian Brothers University tops our 2026 list of the best value physician assistant schools in Tennessee. Set in the city of Memphis, Christian Brothers University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,420. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $32,416 in student loans. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $51,040. Set against $32,416 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Trevecca Nazarene University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physician assistant, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,300. Students borrow a median of $24,962 to complete the physician assistant program here. Physician Assistant graduates of Trevecca Nazarene University earn a median of $110,360 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,962 median debt. Trevecca Nazarene University admits about 69% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at South College earned it the #3 place for physician assistant. South College is a large private for-profit school located in the city of Knoxville. In-state tuition and fees average $18,535. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from South College generally make around $66,010. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lincoln Memorial University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Located in the town of Harrogate, Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,938. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $20,693. Physician Assistant graduates of Lincoln Memorial University earn a median of $123,546 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lincoln Memorial University admits about 63% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in physician assistant will find it at Milligan College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Milligan, Milligan College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,450. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $26,150 in student loans. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $107,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Bethel University Tennessee came in at #6 for value in physician assistant this year. Located in the town of McKenzie, Bethel University Tennessee is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,712. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $28,583 in student loans. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $109,728. Set against $28,583 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Lipscomb University earned the #7 position for value in physician assistant this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $23,529. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $48,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lipscomb University admits about 68% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
