by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Pre-Physician Assistant involves the study of A Program That Prepares Individuals For Admission To A Professional Physician Assistant Program. Read on to learn the key facts every pre-physician assistant student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering pre-physician assistant programs.
In the U.S., pre-physician assistant draws strong interest, with 127 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Pre-Physician Assistant Schools ranking analyzes these 13 schools to determine the best overall colleges for pre-physician assistant students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of pre-physician assistant programs later in this article.
There are several pre-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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 8 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 113 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 6 |
With 13 different pre-physician assistant programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased pre-physician assistant school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in pre-physician assistant, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other | 3,744 |
| Pre-Nursing Studies | 2,731 |
| Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies | 1,739 |
| Pre-Physical Therapy Studies | 256 |
| Pre-Pharmacy Studies | 207 |
| Pre-Occupational Therapy Studies | 113 |
| Pre-Dentistry Studies | 53 |
| Pre-Art Therapy | 16 |
| Pre-Optometry Studies | 7 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
