2026 Best Physician Assistant Schools in the Southwest Region
Physician 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.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best physician assistant schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Physician Assistant in the Southwest Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the physician assistant degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Physician Assistant
The University Of Texas Medical Branch tops our 2026 ranking of the best physician assistant schools. The University Of Texas Medical Branch is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Galveston. The University Of Texas Medical Branch awarded about 88 physician assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Physician Assistant graduates of The University Of Texas Medical Branch earn a median of $92,841 early in their careers. The University Of Texas Medical Branch graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in physician assistant, ranking #2. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio is a mid-sized public institution. The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio awarded about 48 physician assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physician assistant degree from The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio earn around $85,257 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,627 to complete this degree.
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University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in physician assistant, ranking #3. University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Oklahoma City. About 73 physician assistant degrees were awarded at University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in the most recent year. Physician Assistant graduates of University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center earn a median of $67,979 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,062.
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A rank of #4 makes Midwestern University Glendale one of the top schools for physician assistant. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Glendale. Midwestern University Glendale awarded about 95 physician assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $123,370 in their early career.
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Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best physician assistant schools. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a moderately-sized public university. About 53 physician assistant degrees were awarded at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in the most recent year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $101,336 in their early career. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center graduates carry a median of $24,889 in student loans.
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Baylor University came in at #6 for physician assistant this year. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. Baylor University graduates 80% of students within six years. Baylor University awarded about 19 physician assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $49,888 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,928 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physician assistant from Baylor University
Northern Arizona University placed #7 among the best physician assistant schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Flagstaff. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Northern Arizona University awarded about 57 physician assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physician assistant degree from Northern Arizona University earn around $105,814 in the first couple years of their career. Northern Arizona University graduates carry a median of $21,645 in student loans.
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University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center placed #8 among the best physician assistant schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Dallas. About 55 physician assistant degrees were awarded at University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in the most recent year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $114,133 in their early career.
More information about a degree in physician assistant from University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
University Of North Texas Health Science Center earned the #9 position for physician assistant this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, University Of North Texas Health Science Center is a mid-sized public institution. About 70 physician assistant degrees were awarded at University Of North Texas Health Science Center in the most recent year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $111,888 in their early career.
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University Of New Mexico Main Campus placed #10 among the best physician assistant schools. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of New Mexico Main Campus awarded about 22 physician assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $84,163 in their early career. University Of New Mexico Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,294 in student loans.
More information about a degree in physician assistant from University Of New Mexico Main Campus
The University Of Texas Pan American landed the #11 spot for physician assistant this year. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. About 90 physician assistant degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas Pan American in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $116,929. The University Of Texas Pan American graduates carry a median of $14,694 in student loans.
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University Of Mary Hardin Baylor placed #12 among the best physician assistant schools. University Of Mary Hardin Baylor is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Belton. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. University Of Mary Hardin Baylor awarded about 36 physician assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physician assistant degree from University Of Mary Hardin Baylor earn around $54,062 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Mary Hardin Baylor graduates carry a median of $26,782 in student loans.
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Baylor College Of Medicine landed the #13 spot for physician assistant this year. Located in the city of Houston, Baylor College Of Medicine is a small private not-for-profit university. About 32 physician assistant degrees were awarded at Baylor College Of Medicine in the most recent year. Physician Assistant graduates of Baylor College Of Medicine earn a median of $110,384 early in their careers.
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Oklahoma City University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best physician assistant schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City University graduates 65% of students within six years. Oklahoma City University awarded about 30 physician assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physician assistant degree from Oklahoma City University earn around $112,512 in the first couple years of their career. Oklahoma City University graduates carry a median of $27,248 in student loans.
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Northeastern State University placed #15 among the best physician assistant schools. Northeastern State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Tahlequah. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. There were roughly 21 physician assistant students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Northeastern State University generally make around $49,353. Northeastern State University graduates carry a median of $23,465 in student loans.
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Hardin Simmons University placed #16 among the best physician assistant schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Abilene. About 46% of students finish within six years. Hardin Simmons University awarded about 29 physician assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physician assistant degree from Hardin Simmons University earn around $113,805 in the first couple years of their career. Hardin Simmons University graduates carry a median of $26,674 in student loans.
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West Coast University Dallas placed #17 among the best physician assistant schools. West Coast University Dallas is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Richardson. About 11% of students finish within six years. About 49 physician assistant degrees were awarded at West Coast University Dallas in the most recent year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $85,998 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $38,145 to complete this degree.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 20 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.