2027 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools in the The Plains States Region
[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 20 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value physician assistant schools.
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2027 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools in the The Plains States Region
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 Saint Marys University Of Minnesota, our #1 best value for physician assistant in the The Plains States Region. Located in the town of Winona, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,080. Students borrow a median of $27,081 to complete the physician assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Saint Marys University Of Minnesota generally make around $69,785. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wichita State University earned it the #2 place for physician assistant. Wichita State University is a large public school located in the city of Wichita. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,684, with out-of-state students paying around $19,869. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $24,262 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $116,584. That is a strong return on a $24,262 median debt. Wichita State University admits about 94% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Missouri Kansas City earned it the #3 place for physician assistant. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $60,324. That is a strong return on a $23,741 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of North Dakota came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,951, with out-of-state students paying around $15,570. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $25,110. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from University Of North Dakota generally make around $120,179. That is a strong return on a $25,110 median debt. University Of North Dakota admits about 77% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in physician assistant will find it at Missouri State University Springfield, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $99,606. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
College Of Saint Mary came in at #6 for value in physician assistant this year. Located in the city of Omaha, College Of Saint Mary is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $24,510 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $25,539. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $111,538. Set against $25,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. College Of Saint Mary admits about 45% of applicants.
Kansas State University placed #7 among the best values for physician assistant. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $23,546 in student loans. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $51,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
St Catherine University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, St Catherine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,428. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $31,250. Physician Assistant graduates of St Catherine University earn a median of $82,926 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. St Catherine University admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Iowa landed the #9 spot for physician assistant value this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $28,000. Physician Assistant graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $96,948 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of South Dakota ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Located in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,432 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,942 for out-of-state students. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $26,322 in student loans. Physician Assistant graduates of University Of South Dakota earn a median of $120,429 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Dubuque ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value physician assistant schools. University Of Dubuque is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dubuque. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,095. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $27,204. Physician Assistant graduates of University Of Dubuque earn a median of $120,504 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,204 median debt. University Of Dubuque admits about 89% of applicants.
Stephens College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Stephens College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $28,300. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $33,326. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Stephens College generally make around $115,261. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Union College Nebraska earned the #13 position for value in physician assistant this year. Union College Nebraska is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lincoln. Students from in state pay about $29,334 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $30,938. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Union College Nebraska generally make around $107,719. Set against $30,938 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Augsburg College came in at #14 for value in physician assistant this year. Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $45,452. Students borrow a median of $26,319 to complete the physician assistant program here. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $126,128. That is a strong return on a $26,319 median debt. Augsburg College admits about 82% of applicants.
Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #15 spot for physician assistant value this year. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $55,760. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $27,000. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $83,825. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Louis University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
Saint Ambrose University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Located in the city of Davenport, Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,658. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $27,528 in student loans. Physician Assistant graduates of Saint Ambrose University earn a median of $117,805 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,528 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Northwestern College Iowa came in at #17 for value in physician assistant this year. Set in the town of Orange City, Northwestern College Iowa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,710. Students borrow a median of $25,415 to complete the physician assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Northwestern College Iowa generally make around $54,845. Set against $25,415 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwestern College Iowa admits about 80% of applicants.
The College Of Saint Scholastica ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Set in the city of Duluth, The College Of Saint Scholastica is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,778 in tuition and fees. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $26,755 in student loans. Physician Assistant graduates of The College Of Saint Scholastica earn a median of $88,873 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,755 median debt. The College Of Saint Scholastica admits about 93% of applicants.
Bethel University Minnesota landed the #19 spot for physician assistant value this year. Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,226. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $25,639. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $109,260. That is a strong return on a $25,639 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Creighton University placed #20 among the best values for physician assistant. Set in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $48,856 in tuition and fees. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $25,831 in student loans. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $64,369. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
