by our College Data Analytics Team
[Physician Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/physician-assistant/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong physician assistant education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value physician assistant schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physician assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Kettering College earned the #1 spot for value among physician assistant schools in Ohio. Set in the city of Kettering, Kettering College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,320. Students borrow a median of $28,184 to complete the physician assistant program here. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $78,184. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Cleveland State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physician assistant, landing the #2 spot this year. Cleveland State University is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $12,982 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,357 to complete the physician assistant program here. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $26,845. That is a strong return on a $24,357 median debt. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mercy College Of Ohio earned it the #3 place for physician assistant. Located in the city of Toledo, Mercy College Of Ohio is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,345. Students borrow a median of $20,958 to complete the physician assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Mercy College Of Ohio generally make around $47,886. That is a strong return on a $20,958 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Toledo came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,157, compared with $21,517 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $25,000. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $88,451. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
College Of Mount St Joseph came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Set in the suburb of Cincinnati, College Of Mount St Joseph is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,150. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $28,273 in student loans. Physician Assistant graduates of College Of Mount St Joseph earn a median of $97,906 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 59%.
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Marietta College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Marietta College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Marietta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,652. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the physician assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Marietta College generally make around $111,759. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Marietta College admits about 79% of applicants.
Ohio Dominican University came in at #7 for value in physician assistant this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio Dominican University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $35,720 in tuition and fees. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $28,166 in student loans. Physician Assistant graduates of Ohio Dominican University earn a median of $107,779 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio Dominican University admits about 94% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #8 for value in physician assistant this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $27,000. Physician Assistant graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $71,830 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Lake Erie College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Lake Erie College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Painesville. Students from in state pay about $37,634 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,250 to complete the physician assistant program here. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $109,982. Set against $28,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Ashland University earned the #10 position for value in physician assistant this year. Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ashland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,210. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $24,536 in student loans. Physician Assistant graduates of Ashland University earn a median of $48,852 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,536 median debt. Ashland University admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of Mount Union came in at #11 for value in physician assistant this year. Set in the town of Alliance, University Of Mount Union is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $36,600. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $26,988. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from University Of Mount Union generally make around $114,932. That is a strong return on a $26,988 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
The University Of Findlay earned the #12 position for value in physician assistant this year. Set in the town of Findlay, The University Of Findlay is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $41,164. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $19,500. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $83,114. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Baldwin Wallace College placed #13 among the best values for physician assistant. Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Berea. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,832. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $27,307. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $100,618. Set against $27,307 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Baldwin Wallace College admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of Dayton ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $49,140. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete the physician assistant program here. Physician Assistant graduates of University Of Dayton earn a median of $112,830 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Case Western Reserve University earned the #15 position for value in physician assistant this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $66,608. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans. Physician Assistant graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $122,004 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,106 median debt. The acceptance rate is 36%.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.