2026 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Physician Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/physician-assistant/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 25 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for physician assistant students.
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2026 Best Value Physician Assistant Schools in the The Plains States Region
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
University Of Missouri Kansas City tops our 2026 list of the best value physician assistant schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete the physician assistant program here. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $60,324. Set against $23,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
Wichita State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physician assistant, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,684, compared with $19,869 for out-of-state students. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $24,262 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $116,584. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the physician assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $99,606. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of Saint Mary earned it the #4 place for physician assistant. Set in the city of Omaha, College Of Saint Mary is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $24,510. Students borrow a median of $25,539 to complete the physician assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from College Of Saint Mary generally make around $111,538. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. College Of Saint Mary admits about 45% of applicants.
University Of North Dakota is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physician assistant, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,951, while out-of-state students pay about $15,570. Students borrow a median of $25,110 to complete the physician assistant program here. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $120,179. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Kansas State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $23,546 in student loans. Physician Assistant graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $51,543 early in their careers. Set against $23,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of South Dakota landed the #7 spot for physician assistant value this year. Set in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,432, while out-of-state students pay about $12,942. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $26,322 in student loans. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $120,429. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Dakota admits about 99% of applicants.
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota placed #8 among the best values for physician assistant. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona. Students from in state pay about $45,080 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,081 to complete the physician assistant program here. Physician Assistant graduates of Saint Marys University Of Minnesota earn a median of $69,785 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of Iowa earned the #9 position for value in physician assistant this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $96,948. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Union College Nebraska landed the #10 spot for physician assistant value this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, Union College Nebraska is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $29,334. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $30,938 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Union College Nebraska generally make around $107,719. That is a strong return on a $30,938 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%.
St Catherine University came in at #11 for value in physician assistant this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, St Catherine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,428. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $31,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from St Catherine University generally make around $82,926. Set against $31,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Ambrose University placed #12 among the best values for physician assistant. Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Davenport. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,658. Typical student debt for physician assistant graduates is $27,528. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $117,805. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Ambrose University admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Dubuque landed the #13 spot for physician assistant value this year. Located in the city of Dubuque, University Of Dubuque is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,095 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,204 to complete the physician assistant program here. Physician Assistant graduates of University Of Dubuque earn a median of $120,504 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Dubuque admits about 89% of applicants.
Northwestern College Iowa landed the #14 spot for physician assistant value this year. Set in the town of Orange City, Northwestern College Iowa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,710. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $25,415 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Northwestern College Iowa generally make around $54,845. Set against $25,415 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwestern College Iowa admits about 80% of applicants.
Stephens College earned the #15 position for value in physician assistant this year. Stephens College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,300. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $33,326 in student loans. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $115,261. Set against $33,326 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Stephens College admits about 77% of applicants.
Augsburg College landed the #16 spot for physician assistant value this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,452. Students borrow a median of $26,319 to complete the physician assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physician assistant degree recipients from Augsburg College generally make around $126,128. That is a strong return on a $26,319 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
The College Of Saint Scholastica earned the #17 position for value in physician assistant this year. Located in the city of Duluth, The College Of Saint Scholastica is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,778. Students borrow a median of $26,755 to complete the physician assistant program here. Physician Assistant graduates of The College Of Saint Scholastica earn a median of $88,873 early in their careers. Set against $26,755 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value physician assistant schools. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,760. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career physician assistant graduates make about $83,825. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Louis University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
Bethel University Minnesota placed #19 among the best values for physician assistant. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,226. Students borrow a median of $25,639 to complete the physician assistant program here. Physician Assistant graduates of Bethel University Minnesota earn a median of $109,260 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bethel University Minnesota admits about 88% of applicants.
Creighton University came in at #20 for value in physician assistant this year. Creighton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Omaha. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,856. Physician Assistant graduates carry a median of $25,831 in student loans. Physician Assistant graduates of Creighton University earn a median of $64,369 early in their careers. Set against $25,831 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
