So you are considering PA school?
Great, now how are you going to pay for it?
With the average undergraduate education debt prior to PA school at $36,300 and the average anticipated debt load from PA school at $75,000-$124,000 it's probably time to ask the next logical question:
How much does PA school cost?
Like most college and advanced degree programs in the United States, the price of PA school is rising.
Based on current data supplied by the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Physician Assistant Education Association PA Program Directory:
Average Cost Across all PA Schools for the 2017 Application Cycle is as Follows:
- Average cost of resident tuition for a 27-month physician assistant program is: $71,369
- Average cost of non-resident tuition for a 27-month physician assistant program is: $89,975
- Average program length is 27 months
The average increase in nonresident tuition over the last five years was 3.5%, whereas resident tuition rose by 4.1%.
The Cost of Public vs. Private PA Programs
Of particular interest was the difference between public and private institution tuition and fees.
- The average total resident tuition and nonresident tuition were higher for PA programs from private institutions than from those from public institutions.
- There was a 4% to 7% increase in the average total resident tuition for public and private institutions.
- The average total incidental costs (books, medical equipment, etc.) for public and private institutions increased by 23% and 139%, respectively.
- Today, 62.5% of PA programs are private, while only 35.6% are public.
Average Costs of PA Program Fees Public vs. Private
- Physician assistant program fees at public institution: $5,937
- Physician assistant program fees at private institution: $4,672
The good news is that these are averages, so the price of pa school is variable and based on factors such as private vs. public institutions, location, fees, etc., etc. For a detailed comparison of tuition cost by school make sure to check out my 2017 pa school cost comparison table or visit my paschoolfinder pa program directory website.
How much did I pay to go to PA School?
When I was attending the Rutgers University PA program in 2001 the annual tuition was just $10,000 per year! Since this was a 3-year program my total cost, minus fees, was $30,000.
I was one of the lucky few who received a stipend from the National Health Service Corps and had my PA school paid for. I would suggest you look into this program as well.
How much would my same PA program cost in 2015-2016?
Here is the breakdown of my school (Rutgers) and the projected annual cost of tuition and fees for the 2015-2016 academic year.
Since they use a rather confusing credit system (this is common among PA programs) I will provide a breakdown here.
Cost of Rutgers Physician Assistant Program in 2015-2016
- $640 per credit for residents
- $969 per credit for non-residents
Classes and Credits:
|
First Professional Year |
|||
| Fall Semester |
Credits |
Spring Semester |
Credits |
| Microbiology | 7 | Integrated Anatomy & Physiology | 5 |
| Integrated Anatomy & Physiology | 5 | Pathology | 5 |
| Cellular & Genetic Mechanisms | 4 | Human Development/ Health Maintenance | 3 |
| Biochemistry | 3 | Neuroanatomy | 2 |
| Professionalism I | 1 | Electrocardiography | 2 |
| Introduction to Scientific Inquiry | 1 | Clinical Laboratory | 3 |
| Medical Ethics | 1 | Systems Histology | 1 |
|
Total Credits |
22 |
Total Credits |
21 |
| Summer Semester |
Credits |
||
| Applied Clinical Research |
3 |
||
| Second Professional Year | |||
| Fall Semester |
Credits |
Spring Semester |
Credits |
| Clinical Medicine I | 11 | Clinical Medicine II | 2 |
| Physical Diagnosis | 3 | Clinical Nutrition | 1 |
| Introduction to Radiology I | 2 | Psychiatry | 3 |
| Pharmacology | 3 | Introduction to Radiology II | 1 |
| Medical Interviewing | 3 | Introduction to Clinical Clerkships | 2 |
| Applied Clinical Correlates |
1 |
Physician Assistant Internship I |
12 |
|
Total Credits |
23 |
Total Credits |
21 |
| Summer Semester |
Credits |
|
|
| Physician Assistant Internship II |
8 |
||
| Third Professional Year | |||
| Fall Semester |
Credits |
Spring Semester |
Credits |
| Physician Assistant Internship III |
12 |
Physician Assistant Internship IV |
12 |
| Professionalism II | 1 | ||
|
Total Credits |
12 |
Total Credits |
13
|
Total Credits: 123
Breakdown of in-state tuition cost:
- First Professional Year
- 22 + 21 + 3 = 46 credits x $640 per credit = $29,440
- Second Professional Year
- 23 + 21 + 8 = 52 credits x $640 per credit = $33,280
- Third Professional Year
- 12 + 13 = 25 credits x $640 per credit = $16,000
Total cost of in-state tuition for the 2015-2016 academic year: $78,720 (cost in 2012: $69,524)
Breakdown of out-of-state tuition cost:
- First Professional Year
- 22 + 21 + 3 = 46 credits x $969 per credit = $44,574
- Second Professional Year
- 23 + 21 + 8 = 52 credits x $969 per credit = $50,388
- Third Professional Year
- 12 + 13 = 25 credits x $969 per credit = $24,225
Total cost of out-of state tuition for the 2015-2016 academic school year: $119,187
How about the Fees?
- $10.00 Program fee per credit x 123 credits = $1,230
- $250.00 Technology Fee with a course load of 6 credits or more
- $50.00 General Service Fee *one-time fee
- $75.00 Non-Refundable Registration Fee for Non-Matriculated students
- $50.00 for Late Registration for Matriculated students
- $100.00 Continuing Program Status Fee
- $100.00 Maintaining Matriculation Fee
- $ 85.00 Criminal Background Check Fee
- The Student Health Services Fee is $350
Total in Fees: $ 2,290
In a later blog post I will be discussing the cost of books, medical supplies and general living expenses. Unless you attend PA school on a part-time basis it is difficult to maintain a job along with a full time PA school curriculum.
Also, you may have noticed that Rutgers University has a three-year PA school curriculum. How does this compare with shorter programs?
Take a look at the 2017 comparison table.
How much did your PA school cost?
Is it worth it?
Feel free to share your comments below.
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Hi Stephen,
I’m about to embark on my freshman year and I have always had an interest in oncology. I felt that becoming an oncologist was too long of a time period since I want to start a family. I have family and friends who are PAs and I learned that you are able to be specialized so I plan to be a PA in oncology. I have been looking into the cost of PA school and have a question about it. If the PA school is 27 months and it says it costs $128,000, does that mean that the program costs 128,000 per year or for the entire program? Also, since I want to be a PA in oncology do is it mandatory to do a fellowship after PA school? Thanks for the help!
Great questions Ellery!
1. If the cost is $128,000 that is for the entire program. It often does not include books and fees though so you may want to factor these in as well. The cost has been skyrocketing since I graduated in 2004 which makes programs like the National Health Service Corps even that more attractive. Although PAs in specialty medicine make a very good income so it is still a good value.
2. You do not need to go through a residency program. Some specialty jobs ask for prior experience. I would just make sure to double down on my elective rotations. My wife was an RN who worked for years in oncology with a lot of midlevel providers. It’s a wonderful specialty.
Best of luck to you and your future, enjoy the journey!!!
Stephen
Hi Stephen,
I’m a freshman and am very interested in becoming a PA. My parents are for it 100% but I -and i’m sure they- know it would be very expensive. Please could you suggest any other agencies or organisations such as NHSC that support PA students in exchange to partake in some service or work ?
My aunt- who is a RN- is persuading me to opt for nursing but I would rather become a PA. I’d really appreciate your reply.
Hi Macy,
Congratulations on your decision to pursue a career as a PA… You won’t be disappointed. With over 48,000 current job openings your parents will be very happy as well 🙂 I wrote a post earlier this year that will be helpful: https://www.thepalife.com/scholarships-grants-and-loan-repayment-programs-for-physician-assistants/
As a NHSC scholar I am a bit partial to this path. I think they offer the best balance of loan repayment and an opportunity for a great/meaningful experience working in an underserved area. I can’t recommend it enough!
Stephen