2026 Best Physician Assistant Schools in North Carolina
Physician Assistant programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their physician assistant programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for physician assistant students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Physician Assistant in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall physician assistant education in North Carolina.
Top Schools in Physician Assistant
Leading the list is Duke University, our #1 school for physician assistant. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 97% of students finish within six years. About 90 physician assistant degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $118,707 in their early career. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans.
Read more about the physician assistant program at Duke University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in physician assistant, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 physician assistant degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $105,700. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans.
More information about a degree in physician assistant from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
A rank of #3 makes Wake Forest University one of the top schools for physician assistant. Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 86 physician assistant students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year. Physician Assistant graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $106,711 early in their careers. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
See the full physician assistant program report for Wake Forest University
Students looking for a strong physician assistant program will find one at Elon University, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 36 physician assistant degrees were awarded at Elon University in the most recent year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $105,947 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,619.
More information about a degree in physician assistant from Elon University
A rank of #5 makes Campbell University one of the top schools for physician assistant. Set in the town of Buies Creek, Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 55 physician assistant students who graduated with this degree at Campbell University in the most recent data year. Physician Assistant graduates of Campbell University earn a median of $116,635 early in their careers. Campbell University graduates carry a median of $23,641 in student loans.
Read more about the physician assistant program at Campbell University
Wingate University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best physician assistant schools. Located in the suburb of Wingate, Wingate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 59 physician assistant degrees were awarded at Wingate University in the most recent year. Physician Assistant graduates of Wingate University earn a median of $112,813 early in their careers. Wingate University graduates carry a median of $25,556 in student loans.
Read more about the physician assistant program at Wingate University
East Carolina University placed #7 among the best physician assistant schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Greenville. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 33 physician assistant students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $107,773. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
See the full physician assistant program report for East Carolina University
Pfeiffer University earned the #8 position for physician assistant this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Misenheimer. Pfeiffer University graduates 35% of students within six years. There were roughly 46 physician assistant students who graduated with this degree at Pfeiffer University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Pfeiffer University generally make around $54,891. Pfeiffer University graduates carry a median of $26,375 in student loans.
Read more about the physician assistant program at Pfeiffer University
Methodist University came in at #9 for physician assistant this year. Methodist University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fayetteville. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. About 39 physician assistant degrees were awarded at Methodist University in the most recent year. Students who receive their physician assistant degree from Methodist University earn around $113,608 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,604 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physician assistant from Methodist University
Gardner Webb University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best physician assistant schools. Set in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 33 physician assistant degrees were awarded at Gardner Webb University in the most recent year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $110,028 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete this degree.
Get the full physician assistant details for Gardner Webb University
More Physician Assistant Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
- 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.