2027 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools in Virginia
[Physician Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/physician-assistant/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for physician assistant students.
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2027 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physician assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Physician Assistant Schools
Leading the list is Radford University, our #1 best value for physician assistant in Virginia. Set in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,548 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,633 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the physician assistant program here. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $83,490. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Radford University admits about 90% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in physician assistant will find it at Mary Baldwin College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Staunton, Mary Baldwin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,187. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $29,562. Physician Assistant graduates of Mary Baldwin College earn a median of $105,021 early in their careers. Set against $29,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Old Dominion University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Old Dominion University is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,750, while out-of-state students pay about $33,780. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $26,001. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $57,131. That is a strong return on a $26,001 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Emory And Henry College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Set in the rural area of Emory, Emory And Henry College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,000. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $26,938 in student loans. Physician Assistant graduates of Emory And Henry College earn a median of $47,255 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,938 median debt. Emory And Henry College admits about 84% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in physician assistant will find it at Lynchburg College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Lynchburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $36,750 in tuition and fees. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $138,322. Lynchburg College admits about 43% of applicants.
James Madison University landed the #6 spot for physician assistant value this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,966, while out-of-state students pay about $31,312. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $21,218 in student loans. Physician Assistant graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $120,817 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,218 median debt. James Madison University admits about 72% of applicants.
Randolph Macon College earned the #7 position for value in physician assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Ashland, Randolph Macon College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,466. Students borrow a median of $26,432 to complete the physician assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Randolph Macon College generally make around $40,317. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Shenandoah University earned the #8 position for value in physician assistant this year. Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winchester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,950. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $26,005 in student loans. Physician Assistant graduates of Shenandoah University earn a median of $100,464 early in their careers. Set against $26,005 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Shenandoah University admits about 77% of applicants.
South Universityrichmond earned the #9 position for value in physician assistant this year. South Universityrichmond is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Glen Allen. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,895. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $49,375. Physician Assistant graduates of South Universityrichmond earn a median of $107,029 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
