2026 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools in New York
[Physician Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/physician-assistant/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 26 schools to find the best return on investment for physician assistant students.
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2026 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools in New York
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the physician assistant degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Physician Assistant Schools
Cuny City College tops our 2026 list of the best value physician assistant schools in New York. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $13,389. Physician Assistant graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of $122,866 early in their careers. Set against $13,389 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
A rank of #2 makes Cuny York College one of the best values for physician assistant. Cuny York College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Jamaica. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,358, while out-of-state students pay about $15,308. Students borrow a median of $12,573 to complete the physician assistant program here. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $138,173. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny York College admits about 64% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in physician assistant will find it at Mercy College, which ranked #3. Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry. In-state tuition and fees average $22,880. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $28,304 in student loans. Physician Assistant graduates of Mercy College earn a median of $135,885 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stony Brook University earned it the #4 place for physician assistant. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,931 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,741. Students borrow a median of $20,538 to complete the physician assistant program here. Physician Assistant graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $107,346 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stony Brook University admits about 49% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in physician assistant will find it at Canisius College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Buffalo, Canisius College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,200. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $24,673 in student loans. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $42,672. Set against $24,673 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Daemen College landed the #6 spot for physician assistant value this year. Located in the suburb of Amherst, Daemen College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $35,218 in tuition and fees. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $28,358 in student loans. Physician Assistant graduates of Daemen College earn a median of $99,794 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Daemen College admits about 68% of applicants.
New York Institute Of Technology placed #7 among the best values for physician assistant. Located in the rural area of Old Westbury, New York Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $46,560 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $25,435. Physician Assistant graduates of New York Institute Of Technology earn a median of $133,479 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,435 median debt. New York Institute Of Technology admits about 81% of applicants.
Dyouville College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Set in the city of Buffalo, Dyouville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,940. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $42,500. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Dyouville College generally make around $104,331. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Le Moyne College earned the #9 position for value in physician assistant this year. Located in the suburb of Syracuse, Le Moyne College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $40,330 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $25,739. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $126,262. That is a strong return on a $25,739 median debt. Le Moyne College admits about 83% of applicants.
Long Island University C W Post Campus earned the #10 position for value in physician assistant this year. Located in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,432 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,545 to complete the physician assistant program here. Physician Assistant graduates of Long Island University C W Post Campus earn a median of $108,913 early in their careers. Set against $28,545 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Touro College earned the #11 position for value in physician assistant this year. Located in the city of New York, Touro College is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $20,052 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $12,053. Physician Assistant graduates of Touro College earn a median of $101,841 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,053 median debt. Touro College admits about 61% of applicants.
St Johns University New York landed the #12 spot for physician assistant value this year. St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Queens. In-state tuition and fees average $53,529. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Physician Assistant graduates of St Johns University New York earn a median of $100,883 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Saint Bonaventure University landed the #13 spot for physician assistant value this year. Located in the town of Saint Bonaventure, Saint Bonaventure University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,735. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $25,917 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Saint Bonaventure University generally make around $43,190. Set against $25,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Wagner College came in at #14 for value in physician assistant this year. Located in the city of Staten Island, Wagner College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,200. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the physician assistant program here. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $129,631. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Rochester Institute Of Technology placed #15 among the best values for physician assistant. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Students from in state pay about $59,210 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $31,125 to complete the physician assistant program here. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $84,717. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rochester Institute Of Technology admits about 67% of applicants.
Pace University New York placed #16 among the best values for physician assistant. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,510 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,670 to complete the physician assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Pace University New York generally make around $139,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Clarkson University came in at #17 for value in physician assistant this year. Located in the town of Potsdam, Clarkson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,398. Students borrow a median of $26,566 to complete the physician assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Clarkson University generally make around $120,718. Set against $26,566 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Clarkson University admits about 77% of applicants.
Ithaca College landed the #18 spot for physician assistant value this year. Located in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,616. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Physician Assistant graduates of Ithaca College earn a median of $38,328 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Hofstra University placed #19 among the best values for physician assistant. Located in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,660. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Hofstra University generally make around $88,893. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Hofstra University admits about 68% of applicants.
Marist College placed #20 among the best values for physician assistant. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $47,620 in tuition and fees. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $25,962 in student loans. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $126,503. Set against $25,962 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Marist College admits about 56% of applicants.
Yeshiva University came in at #21 for value in physician assistant this year. Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $51,800. Students borrow a median of $20,625 to complete the physician assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Yeshiva University generally make around $52,838. Set against $20,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 56%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
- 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.
