by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Physician Assistant explores Physician Assistant. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Practice Medicine, Including Diagnoses And Treatment Therapies, Under The Supervision Of A Physician. Includes Instruction In The Basic Medical And Clinical Sciences And Specialized Preparation In Fields Such As Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Gynecology, General Surgery, Psychiatry, And Behavioral Medicine; The Delivery Of Health Care Services To Homebound Patients, Rural Populations, And Underserved Populations; And Community Health Services. Continue reading for the important information every physician assistant student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering physician assistant programs.
Across the country, physician assistant draws strong interest, with 13,046 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Physician Assistant Schools ranking analyzes these 262 schools to determine the best overall colleges for physician assistant students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of physician assistant programs later in this article.
Programs in Physician Assistant build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations physician assistant graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a physician assistant program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a physician assistant major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several physician assistant degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 30 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 311 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 12,047 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 658 |
People currently working in careers related to physician assistant tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 65.4% |
| First professional degree | 9.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 8.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 7.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.7% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in physician assistant careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying physician assistant prepares you for a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to physician assistant.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to physician assistant.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Physician Assistants | 2,607,247 | 6.7% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Anesthesiologist Assistants | 134,553 | 15.0% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of physician assistant graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $67,845 |
| 4 years | $61,295 |
| 5 years | $69,015 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for physician assistant graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers physician assistant grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist Assistants | $116,229 |
| Physician Assistants | $77,320 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 262 different physician assistant programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased physician assistant school rankings to help you.
Students interested in physician assistant, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
