by our College Data Analytics TeamPhysician Assistant is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 63 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for physician assistant students pursuing a degree.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall physician assistant education in the Middle Atlantic Region.
Weill Cornell Medical College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in physician assistant. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 52 physician assistant degrees were awarded at Weill Cornell Medical College in the most recent year. More information about a degree in physician assistant from Weill Cornell Medical College
University Of Maryland Baltimore is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physician assistant, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Maryland Baltimore is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Baltimore. About 103 physician assistant degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland Baltimore in the most recent year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $117,925 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in physician assistant from University Of Maryland Baltimore
Stony Brook University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physician assistant, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 68 physician assistant students who graduated with this degree at Stony Brook University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $107,346 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,538. Get the full physician assistant details for Stony Brook University
George Washington University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best physician assistant schools. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. George Washington University awarded about 58 physician assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $115,278. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete this degree. See the full physician assistant program report for George Washington University
A rank of #5 makes Drexel University one of the top schools for physician assistant. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. About 121 physician assistant degrees were awarded at Drexel University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $121,966. Drexel University graduates carry a median of $28,838 in student loans. See the full physician assistant program report for Drexel University
Thomas Jefferson University landed the #6 spot for physician assistant this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. Thomas Jefferson University graduates 69% of students within six years. About 118 physician assistant degrees were awarded at Thomas Jefferson University in the most recent year. Students who receive their physician assistant degree from Thomas Jefferson University earn around $102,913 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. More information about a degree in physician assistant from Thomas Jefferson University
Marist College landed the #7 spot for physician assistant this year. Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 56 physician assistant students who graduated with this degree at Marist College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Marist College generally make around $126,503. Marist College graduates carry a median of $25,962 in student loans. See the full physician assistant program report for Marist College
Pace University New York placed #8 among the best physician assistant schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 60% of students finish within six years. Pace University New York awarded about 107 physician assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $139,278 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,656. More information about a degree in physician assistant from Pace University New York
Touro College came in at #9 for physician assistant this year. Touro College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Touro College graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 197 physician assistant students who graduated with this degree at Touro College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $101,841 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,053 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in physician assistant from Touro College
Suny Downstate Medical Center landed the #10 spot for physician assistant this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Suny Downstate Medical Center is a mid-sized public university. About 31 physician assistant degrees were awarded at Suny Downstate Medical Center in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Suny Downstate Medical Center generally make around $119,581. Suny Downstate Medical Center graduates carry a median of $27,740 in student loans. Get the full physician assistant details for Suny Downstate Medical Center
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #11 spot for physician assistant this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus awarded about 152 physician assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Physician Assistant graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $66,924 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,556. More information about a degree in physician assistant from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best physician assistant schools. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 46 physician assistant students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $97,555 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $30,875 to complete this degree. Read more about the physician assistant program at Rutgers University New Brunswick
St Johns University New York came in at #13 for physician assistant this year. St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Queens. St Johns University New York graduates 66% of students within six years. About 67 physician assistant degrees were awarded at St Johns University New York in the most recent year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $100,883 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in physician assistant from St Johns University New York
Hofstra University placed #14 among the best physician assistant schools. Located in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Hofstra University awarded about 120 physician assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Hofstra University generally make around $88,893. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. See the full physician assistant program report for Hofstra University
Ithaca College came in at #15 for physician assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. Ithaca College awarded about 36 physician assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physician assistant degree from Ithaca College earn around $38,328 in the first couple years of their career. Ithaca College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Get the full physician assistant details for Ithaca College
Saint Josephs University came in at #16 for physician assistant this year. Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. About 79% of students finish within six years. Saint Josephs University awarded about 32 physician assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $111,201 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,426 to complete this degree. See the full physician assistant program report for Saint Josephs University
Towson University placed #17 among the best physician assistant schools. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 physician assistant degrees were awarded at Towson University in the most recent year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $118,584 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,717. Get the full physician assistant details for Towson University
Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine came in at #18 for physician assistant this year. Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine awarded about 79 physician assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Physician Assistant graduates of Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine earn a median of $120,341 early in their careers. See the full physician assistant program report for Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine
Arcadia University landed the #19 spot for physician assistant this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Glenside. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 84 physician assistant students who graduated with this degree at Arcadia University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Arcadia University generally make around $115,462. Arcadia University graduates carry a median of $26,921 in student loans. Read more about the physician assistant program at Arcadia University
Seton Hall University landed the #20 spot for physician assistant this year. Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Orange. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 64 physician assistant students who graduated with this degree at Seton Hall University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Seton Hall University generally make around $108,691. Seton Hall University graduates carry a median of $23,422 in student loans. Read more about the physician assistant program at Seton Hall University
Yeshiva University came in at #21 for physician assistant this year. Located in the city of New York, Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 31 physician assistant degrees were awarded at Yeshiva University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Yeshiva University generally make around $52,838. Students borrow a median of $20,625 to complete this degree. Read more about the physician assistant program at Yeshiva University
Duquesne University placed #22 among the best physician assistant schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 77% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 73 physician assistant students who graduated with this degree at Duquesne University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physician assistant degree from Duquesne University earn around $104,782 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the physician assistant program at Duquesne University
New York Institute Of Technology earned the #23 position for physician assistant this year. New York Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Old Westbury. About 59% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 48 physician assistant students who graduated with this degree at New York Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Physician Assistant graduates of New York Institute Of Technology earn a median of $133,479 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,435. Read more about the physician assistant program at New York Institute Of Technology
Upstate Medical University placed #24 among the best physician assistant schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Upstate Medical University is a small public university. Upstate Medical University awarded about 34 physician assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physician assistant degree from Upstate Medical University earn around $94,410 in the first couple years of their career. Upstate Medical University graduates carry a median of $25,663 in student loans. More information about a degree in physician assistant from Upstate Medical University
Monmouth University placed #25 among the best physician assistant schools. Monmouth University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Long Branch. Monmouth University graduates 72% of students within six years. About 30 physician assistant degrees were awarded at Monmouth University in the most recent year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $115,351 in their early career. Monmouth University graduates carry a median of $26,847 in student loans. More information about a degree in physician assistant from Monmouth University
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong physician assistant education:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 63 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.