2027 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 19 schools to build this 2027 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 2027 ranking of the best physician assistant schools. Located in the city of Galveston, The University Of Texas Medical Branch is a mid-sized public university. About 81 physician assistant degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas Medical Branch in the most recent year. Physician Assistant graduates of The University Of Texas Medical Branch earn a median of $92,841 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250.
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Students looking for a strong physician assistant program will find one at The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio, which ranked #2. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio is a mid-sized public institution. About 50 physician assistant degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio in the most recent year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $85,257 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,627.
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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 68 physician assistant degrees were awarded at University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in the most recent year. Students who receive their physician assistant degree from University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center earn around $67,979 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,062.
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Midwestern University Glendale is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physician assistant, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Glendale, Midwestern University Glendale is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 92 physician assistant degrees were awarded at Midwestern University Glendale in the most recent year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $123,370 in their early career.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center one of the top schools for physician assistant. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Dallas. There were roughly 46 physician assistant students who graduated with this degree at University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $114,133 in their early career.
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Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center earned the #6 position for physician assistant this year. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Lubbock. There were roughly 62 physician assistant students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center generally make around $101,336. Students borrow a median of $24,889 to complete this degree.
See the full physician assistant program report for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
West Coast University Los Angeles landed the #7 spot for physician assistant this year. Set in the city of Richardson, West Coast University Los Angeles is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. About 31% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 46 physician assistant students who graduated with this degree at West Coast University Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physician assistant degree from West Coast University Los Angeles earn around $92,600 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $37,140 to complete this degree.
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Northern Arizona University earned the #8 position for physician assistant this year. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 53 physician assistant degrees were awarded at Northern Arizona University in the most recent 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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Baylor University earned the #9 position for physician assistant this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Waco. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 physician assistant students who graduated with this degree at Baylor University in the most recent data year. Physician Assistant graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $49,888 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,928.
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University Of North Texas Health Science Center came in at #10 for physician assistant this year. University Of North Texas Health Science Center is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Fort Worth. There were roughly 71 physician assistant students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Texas Health Science Center in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from University Of North Texas Health Science Center generally make around $111,888.
See the full physician assistant program report for University Of North Texas Health Science Center
University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best physician assistant schools. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. University Of New Mexico Main Campus awarded about 22 physician assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physician assistant degree from University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn around $84,163 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,294 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas Pan American came in at #12 for physician assistant this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Edinburg. The University Of Texas Pan American graduates 51% of students within six years. There were roughly 93 physician assistant students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas Pan American in the most recent data year. Physician Assistant graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $116,929 early in their careers. 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 came in at #13 for physician assistant this year. University Of Mary Hardin Baylor is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Belton. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 40 physician assistant students who graduated with this degree at University Of Mary Hardin Baylor 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. Typical student debt for the program is $26,782.
More information about a degree in physician assistant from University Of Mary Hardin Baylor
Oklahoma City University earned the #14 position for physician assistant this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Oklahoma City. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 36 physician assistant degrees were awarded at Oklahoma City University in the most recent year. Physician Assistant graduates of Oklahoma City University earn a median of $112,512 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,248 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physician assistant from Oklahoma City University
Baylor College Of Medicine ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best physician assistant schools. Set in the city of Houston, Baylor College Of Medicine is a small private not-for-profit institution. Baylor College Of Medicine awarded about 32 physician assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $110,384 in their early career.
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Hardin Simmons University came in at #16 for physician assistant this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Abilene. About 46% of students finish within six years. About 28 physician assistant degrees were awarded at Hardin Simmons University in the most recent year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $113,805 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,674 to complete this degree.
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Northeastern State University came in at #17 for physician assistant this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Tahlequah. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. Northeastern State University awarded about 20 physician assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physician assistant degree from Northeastern State University earn around $49,353 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,465 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physician assistant from Northeastern State University
South University Austin earned the #18 position for physician assistant this year. Set in the city of Round Rock, South University Austin is a small private for-profit institution. There were roughly 36 physician assistant students who graduated with this degree at South University Austin in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from South University Austin generally make around $107,029. Students borrow a median of $48,472 to complete this degree.
See the full physician assistant program report for South University Austin
Oklahoma State University Center For Health Sciences earned the #19 position for physician assistant this year. Oklahoma State University Center For Health Sciences is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Tulsa. Oklahoma State University Center For Health Sciences awarded about 23 physician assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physician assistant program make about $59,722 in their early career.
Read more about the physician assistant program at Oklahoma State University Center For Health Sciences
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 19 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.