by our College Data Analytics Team
[Physician Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/physician-assistant/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value physician assistant schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physician assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in physician assistant, no school beat Bay Path College this year. Bay Path College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Longmeadow. In-state tuition and fees average $38,302. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $29,811. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $124,713. That is a strong return on a $29,811 median debt. Bay Path College admits about 85% of applicants.
Westfield State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physician assistant, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Westfield, Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,179 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,259. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $25,910. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $127,392. Set against $25,910 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Bridgeport is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physician assistant, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Bridgeport, University Of Bridgeport is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $35,760. Students borrow a median of $28,601 to complete the physician assistant program here. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $126,904. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Bridgeport admits about 83% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Yale University earned it the #4 place for physician assistant. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,250 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete the physician assistant program here. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $124,979. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Saint Joseph College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Set in the city of West Hartford, Saint Joseph College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $47,278 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $27,798. Physician Assistant graduates of Saint Joseph College earn a median of $133,012 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,798 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
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Franklin Pierce University came in at #6 for value in physician assistant this year. Franklin Pierce University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Rindge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,442. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $26,937. Physician Assistant graduates of Franklin Pierce University earn a median of $118,548 early in their careers. Set against $26,937 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Springfield College landed the #7 spot for physician assistant value this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Springfield College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,974. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $27,000. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $80,290. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Springfield College admits about 72% of applicants.
Northeastern University landed the #8 spot for physician assistant value this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $66,162 in tuition and fees. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $25,611 in student loans. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $123,413. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northeastern University admits about 5% of applicants.
Johnson And Wales University Providence ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Set in the city of Providence, Johnson And Wales University Providence is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,982 in tuition and fees. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $26,350 in student loans. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $115,687. Set against $26,350 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Haven ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Located in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $47,332 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,244 to complete the physician assistant program here. Physician Assistant graduates of University Of New Haven earn a median of $49,615 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences earned the #11 position for value in physician assistant this year. Set in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,530. Students borrow a median of $30,750 to complete the physician assistant program here. Physician Assistant graduates of Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences earn a median of $95,886 early in their careers. Set against $30,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences admits about 85% of applicants.
Tufts University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $70,704 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete the physician assistant program here. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $125,250. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 12%.
University Of New England came in at #13 for value in physician assistant this year. Located in the suburb of Biddeford, University Of New England is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $44,210 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the physician assistant program here. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $72,463. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Quinnipiac University placed #14 among the best values for physician assistant. Set in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,480. Students borrow a median of $26,731 to complete the physician assistant program here. Physician Assistant graduates of Quinnipiac University earn a median of $106,098 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Bryant University came in at #15 for value in physician assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Smithfield, Bryant University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,677. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $26,233. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Bryant University generally make around $114,614. That is a strong return on a $26,233 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Sacred Heart University placed #16 among the best values for physician assistant. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,404. Students borrow a median of $22,813 to complete the physician assistant program here. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $72,180. That is a strong return on a $22,813 median debt. Sacred Heart University admits about 65% of applicants.
This ranking is produced 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
