What are the Best PA Schools in 2023? Physician Assistant School Rankings

PA School Rankings The Physician Assistant Life

Does the PA school you attend really make a difference?

When it comes to finding a job, not so much, but when it comes to obtaining superb clinical experience along with solid faculty, excellent academics, and a top-rate student body - then yes, the PA school you attend does matter.

Below is a list of the absolute best (Duke University and the University of Iowa) and worst (Keiser University and MCPHS University-Manchester Worcester) physician assistant (PA) schools based on the most recent survey of academics at peer institutions.

This table is updated annually to reflect the latest PA school ranking data and is populated from the latest US News and World Report annual summary.

PA School Ranking by 5-Year PANCE Pass Rates

PA School Ranking by Five Year PANCE Pass Rates

Since 1998, US News has been publishing the only known ranking of PA programs. Their rankings are based on subjective peer assessment surveys of PA program faculty. Is there a better rating system? View my post on PA school rankings by PANCE pass rates

View PANCE Ranking Data

Physician Assistant/Associate School Rankings

Each school's score reflects its average rating on a scale from 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding) based on a survey of academics at peer institutions.

Last updated 08/2023

PA school ranking data from the latest US News Best Physician Assistant Programs Ranking Report.

Rank	School Name	Location	Score
1	Duke University	Durham, NC	4.4
2 (tie)	Baylor College of Medicine	Houston, TX	4.2
2 (tie)	University of Iowa	Iowa City, IA	4.2
4	Emory University	Atlanta, GA	4.1
5 (tie)	George Washington University	Washington, DC	4
5 (tie)	Oregon Health and Sciences University	Portland, OR	4
7	Rutgers University School of Health Professions	Piscataway, NJ	3.9
8 (tie)	Northwestern University	Chicago, IL	3.8
8 (tie)	Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science	North Chicago, IL	3.8
8 (tie)	Stanford University	Palo Alto, CA	3.8
8 (tie)	University of Alabama--Birmingham	Birmingham, AL	3.8
8 (tie)	University of Colorado	Aurora, CO	3.8
8 (tie)	University of Utah	Salt Lake City, UT	3.8
14 (tie)	University of Florida	Gainesville, FL	3.7
14 (tie)	University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center--Dallas	Dallas, TX	3.7
16 (tie)	Quinnipiac University	Hamden, CT	3.6
16 (tie)	Touro University California	Vallejo, CA	3.6
16 (tie)	University of Nebraska Medical Center	Omaha, NE	3.6
16 (tie)	Wake Forest University	Winston-Salem, NC	3.6
20 (tie)	Northeastern University	Boston, MA	3.5
20 (tie)	Sacred Heart University	CT	3.5
20 (tie)	Seton Hall University	South Orange, NJ	3.5
20 (tie)	Shenandoah University	Winchester, VA	3.5
20 (tie)	University of Kentucky	Lexington, KY	3.5
20 (tie)	University of Southern California	Alhambra, CA	3.5
20 (tie)	University of Washington	Seattle, WA	3.5
27 (tie)	Butler University	Indianapolis, IN	3.4
27 (tie)	Case Western Reserve University	OH	3.4
27 (tie)	Cornell University	New York, NY	3.4
27 (tie)	Drexel University	Philadelphia, PA	3.4
27 (tie)	Eastern Virginia Medical School	Norfolk, VA	3.4
27 (tie)	Interservice Physician Assistant Program	Fort Sam Houston, TX	3.4
27 (tie)	Marquette University	Milwaukee, WI	3.4
27 (tie)	Northern Arizona University	AZ	3.4
27 (tie)	Stony Brook University--SUNY	Stony Brook, NY	3.4
27 (tie)	Tufts University	MA	3.4
27 (tie)	University of North Dakota	Grand Forks, ND	3.4
27 (tie)	University of Wisconsin--Madison	Madison, WI	3.4
27 (tie)	Yale University	New Haven, CT	3.4
40 (tie)	Arizona School of Health Sciences	Mesa, AZ	3.3
40 (tie)	Midwestern University	Glendale, AZ	3.3
40 (tie)	Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center	Midland, TX	3.3
40 (tie)	University of California--Davis	Sacramento, CA	3.3
40 (tie)	University of Lynchburg	VA	3.3
40 (tie)	University of Texas Health Science Center--San Antonio	San Antonio, TX	3.3
46 (tie)	Duquesne University	Pittsburgh, PA	3.2
46 (tie)	Saint Louis University	St. Louis, MO	3.2
46 (tie)	University of South Alabama	Mobile, AL	3.2
46 (tie)	University of Tennessee Health Science Center	TN	3.2
50 (tie)	Boston University School of Medicine PA Program	MA	3.1
50 (tie)	CUNY School of Medicine	New York, NY	3.1
50 (tie)	DeSales University	Center Valley, PA	3.1
50 (tie)	Hofstra University	Hempstead, NY	3.1
50 (tie)	Idaho State University	Pocatello, ID	3.1
50 (tie)	James Madison University	Harrisonburg, VA	3.1
50 (tie)	Medical University of South Carolina	Charleston, SC	3.1
50 (tie)	Midwestern University	Downers Grove, IL	3.1
50 (tie)	Rush University	Chicago, IL	3.1
50 (tie)	Southern Illinois University	Carbondale, IL	3.1
50 (tie)	University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill	NC	3.1
50 (tie)	University of North Texas Health Science Center	Fort Worth, TX	3.1
50 (tie)	University of Pittsburgh	Pittsburgh, PA	3.1
50 (tie)	University of South Dakota	Vermillion, SD	3.1
50 (tie)	Wayne State University	Detroit, MI	3.1
65 (tie)	Albany Medical College	Albany, NY	3
65 (tie)	Bay Path University	MA	3
65 (tie)	Chatham University	Pittsburgh, PA	3
65 (tie)	CUNY--York College	Jamaica, NY	3
65 (tie)	East Carolina University	Greenville, NC	3
65 (tie)	Elon University	NC	3
65 (tie)	Hardin-Simmons University	TX	3
65 (tie)	High Point University	NC	3
65 (tie)	Loma Linda University	Loma Linda, CA	3
65 (tie)	MGH Institute of Health Professions	MA	3
65 (tie)	New York Institute of Technology	Old Westbury, NY	3
65 (tie)	Nova Southeastern University	Fort Lauderdale, FL	3
65 (tie)	SUNY Upstate Medical Center	Syracuse, NY	3
65 (tie)	University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences	AR	3
65 (tie)	University of Detroit Mercy	Detroit, MI	3
65 (tie)	University of South Florida	FL	3
65 (tie)	University of the Pacific	CA	3
65 (tie)	University of Wisconsin--La Crosse-Gunderson Medical Foundation-Mayo School	LaCrosse, WI	3
65 (tie)	Western University of Health Sciences	Pomona, CA	3
65 (tie)	Wichita State University	Wichita, KS	3
85 (tie)	Campbell University	Buies Creek, NC	2.9
85 (tie)	Gannon University	Erie, PA	2.9
85 (tie)	Marshall B. Ketchum University	CA	2.9
85 (tie)	MCPHS University--Boston	Boston, MA	2.9
85 (tie)	Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine	Philadelphia, PA	2.9
85 (tie)	Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions	UT	2.9
85 (tie)	Saint Francis University	Loretto, PA	2.9
85 (tie)	Springfield College	Springfield, MA	2.9
85 (tie)	Touro University--Nevada	Henderson, NV	2.9
85 (tie)	University of New Mexico	Albuquerque, NM	2.9
85 (tie)	University of Texas Medical Branch--Galveston	Galveston, TX	2.9
96 (tie)	Arcadia University	Glenside, PA	2.8
96 (tie)	Augsburg University	Minneapolis, MN	2.8
96 (tie)	Chapman University	CA	2.8
96 (tie)	Dominican University of California	CA	2.8
96 (tie)	Harding University	Searcy, AR	2.8
96 (tie)	Indiana State University	IN	2.8
96 (tie)	Lincoln Memorial University	Harrogate, TN	2.8
96 (tie)	Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania	Lock Haven, PA	2.8
96 (tie)	Louisiana State University--Shreveport	Shreveport, LA	2.8
96 (tie)	Mercer University	Atlanta, GA	2.8
96 (tie)	Pace University	New York, NY	2.8
96 (tie)	Pennsylvania State University	PA	2.8
96 (tie)	Rocky Mountain College	Billings, MT	2.8
96 (tie)	Samuel Merritt University	Oakland, CA	2.8
96 (tie)	Seton Hill University	Greensburg, PA	2.8
96 (tie)	SUNY Downstate Medical Center	Brooklyn, NY	2.8
96 (tie)	University of Maryland, Baltimore	MD	2.8
96 (tie)	University of New England	Biddeford, ME	2.8
96 (tie)	University of Oklahoma	Oklahoma City, OK	2.8
96 (tie)	University of Oklahoma--Tulsa	Tulsa, OK	2.8
96 (tie)	University of Saint Joseph	CT	2.8
96 (tie)	Valparaiso University	IN	2.8
118 (tie)	Bethel University	Paris, TN	2.7
118 (tie)	Bethel University	MN	2.7
118 (tie)	Bryant University	RI	2.7
118 (tie)	California Baptist University	CA	2.7
118 (tie)	Charleston Southern University	SC	2.7
118 (tie)	Daemen University	Amherst, NY	2.7
118 (tie)	Eastern Michigan University	MI	2.7
118 (tie)	Emory & Henry College	VA	2.7
118 (tie)	Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University	Baton Rouge, LA	2.7
118 (tie)	Grand Valley State University	Grand Rapids, MI	2.7
118 (tie)	Indiana University School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences	IN	2.7
118 (tie)	Johnson & Wales University	RI	2.7
118 (tie)	King's College	Wilkes-Barre, PA	2.7
118 (tie)	Louisiana State University--New Orleans	LA	2.7
118 (tie)	Pacific University	Hillsboro, OR	2.7
118 (tie)	Red Rocks Community College	Lakewood, CO	2.7
118 (tie)	South University	Savannah, GA	2.7
118 (tie)	South University--Tampa	Tampa, FL	2.7
118 (tie)	Thomas Jefferson University--East Falls Campus	PA	2.7
118 (tie)	Touro College--Bay Shore	Bay Shore, NY	2.7
118 (tie)	Union College	Lincoln, NE	2.7
118 (tie)	University of Missouri--Kansas City	Kansas City, MO	2.7
118 (tie)	University of Texas--Rio Grande Valley	Edinburg, TX	2.7
118 (tie)	Wingate University	Wingate, NC	2.7
142 (tie)	Alderson-Broaddus University	Philippi, WV	2.6
142 (tie)	Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science	CA	2.6
142 (tie)	Clarkson University	NY	2.6
142 (tie)	Des Moines University	Des Moines, IA	2.6
142 (tie)	Kettering College	Kettering, OH	2.6
142 (tie)	Le Moyne College	Syracuse, NY	2.6
142 (tie)	Mary Baldwin University	VA	2.6
142 (tie)	Marywood University	Scranton, PA	2.6
142 (tie)	Mississippi College	Clinton, MS	2.6
142 (tie)	Missouri State University	Springfield, MO	2.6
142 (tie)	Mount St. Joseph University	OH	2.6
142 (tie)	North Greenville University	SC	2.6
142 (tie)	Nova Southeastern University--Fort Myers	Fort Myers, FL	2.6
142 (tie)	Nova Southeastern University--Orlando	Orlando, FL	2.6
142 (tie)	Ohio University	OH	2.6
142 (tie)	Salus University	Elkins Park, PA	2.6
142 (tie)	South College	Knoxville, TN	2.6
142 (tie)	Southern California University of Health Sciences	CA	2.6
142 (tie)	Thomas Jefferson University--Center City Campus	PA	2.6
142 (tie)	Touro College--Manhattan	New York, NY	2.6
142 (tie)	University of Charleston	WV	2.6
142 (tie)	University of Evansville	IN	2.6
142 (tie)	University of Mount Union	Alliance, OH	2.6
142 (tie)	University of South Carolina	SC	2.6
142 (tie)	University of St. Francis	Albuquerque, NM	2.6
142 (tie)	University of Toledo	Toledo, OH	2.6
142 (tie)	Westfield State University	MA	2.6
169 (tie)	Augusta University	Augusta, GA	2.5
169 (tie)	Baldwin Wallace University	OH	2.5
169 (tie)	Barry University	Miami Shores, FL	2.5
169 (tie)	Central Michigan University	Mt. Pleasant, MI	2.5
169 (tie)	College of St. Scholastica	MN	2.5
169 (tie)	Franklin Pierce University	West Lebanon, NH	2.5
169 (tie)	Lake Erie College	OH	2.5
169 (tie)	Marietta College	Marietta, OH	2.5
169 (tie)	Marist College	NY	2.5
169 (tie)	Methodist University	Fayetteville, NC	2.5
169 (tie)	Ohio Dominican University	OH	2.5
169 (tie)	Pennsylvania College of Technology	Williamsport, PA	2.5
169 (tie)	Radford University	VA	2.5
169 (tie)	Saint Catherine University	MN	2.5
169 (tie)	South University, Richmond	VA	2.5
169 (tie)	St. John's University	Queens, NY	2.5
169 (tie)	Towson University - Community College of Baltimore County Essex	MD	2.5
169 (tie)	University of Bridgeport	Bridgeport, CT	2.5
169 (tie)	University of Findlay	Findlay, OH	2.5
188 (tie)	D'Youville College	Buffalo, NY	2.4
188 (tie)	Florida Gulf Coast University	FL	2.4
188 (tie)	Gardner-Webb University	NC	2.4
188 (tie)	MCPHS University-Manchester/Worcester	Manchester, NH	2.4
188 (tie)	Mercy College	Dobbs Ferry, NY	2.4
188 (tie)	Monmouth University	NJ	2.4
188 (tie)	Oklahoma City University	OK	2.4
188 (tie)	Rochester Institute of Technology	Rochester, NY	2.4
188 (tie)	Stephens College	MO	2.4
188 (tie)	Trevecca Nazarene University	Nashville, TN	2.4
188 (tie)	University of Dayton	OH	2.4
199 (tie)	Carroll University	Waukesha, WI	2.3
199 (tie)	Dominican university	IL	2.3
199 (tie)	Sullivan University	KY	2.3
199 (tie)	University of Saint Francis	Fort Wayne, IN	2.3
199 (tie)	University of the Cumberlands	KY	2.3
204 (tie)	LIU--Brooklyn	Brooklyn, NY	2.2
204 (tie)	Nova Southeastern University--Jacksonville	Jacksonville, FL	2.2
204 (tie)	Nova Southeastern University--West Palm Beach	West Palm Beach, FL	2.2
204 (tie)	University of the Sciences	Philadelphia, PA	2.2
208 (tie)	AdventHealth University	Orlando, FL	2.1
208 (tie)	Keiser University	Fort Lauderdale, FL	2.1
208 (tie)	South University--West Palm Beach	West Palm Beach, FL	2.1
211 (tie)	Florida International University	Miami, FL	2
211 (tie)	Miami-Dade College	Miami, FL	2
211 (tie)	Nova Southeastern University--Tampa	Tampa, FL	2
211 (tie)	South University--Savannah Online	Savannah, GA	2
215	Barry University--St. Petersburg	St. Petersburg, FL	1.9
216	South University--Orlando	Orlando, FL	1.8
217	South University--Montgomery	Montgomery, AL	1.7
218	South University--Columbia	Columbia, SC	1.6
219	South University--Virginia Beach	Virginia Beach, VA	1.5
220	South University--Savannah	Savannah, GA	1.4

Comments

futurePA says

August 20, 2022 at 1:50 pm

Hello, where does Marist PA Program rank on this list?

- Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
  
  August 10, 2023 at 1:18 pm
  
  #169 https://www.thepalife.com/what-are-the-best-pa-schools-physician-assistant-school-rankings/#:~:text=169%20(tie)-,Marist%20College,-NY
  
Renee Funk says

September 23, 2021 at 3:02 pm

I know nothing specific about these PA school rankings but if the ranking methodology is similar to the undergrad rankings, the schools can, and will, game them. Case study Northeastern- made a concerted effort to drive up undergrad applications to drive their acceptance rate down and therefore raise their ranking – other case studies are the safety schools behind Ivies – will put top tier candidates on the waiting list because they know these students aren’t likely to choose them without serious money thrown into the mix – keeps the ratio of accept/offer high and therefore higher ranking. Objective measures of outcomes should be the primary criteria.

Dan Forsberg says

June 28, 2021 at 7:24 am

It is always fascinating to me that this popularity contest between schools is taken seriously. These rankings are performed by survey to programs not by objective measures.
To me, the best PA school is the one that gets you a license to practice least expensively. The most important aspect of any PA school is the student. It is all up to you. Schools that have above average pass rates demonstrate that they work to ensure success. So, the objective measures of a good school are PANCE pass rates and average student debt.

- Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
  
  July 3, 2021 at 2:06 pm
  
  I tend to agree with you Dan, I am not sure if anybody has ever applied rigorous study to the current ranking system. I am not even sure PANCE pass rates are a good measure of a PA school’s quality. To top it off you are starting to see PA programs skirt around this issue in interesting ways that tend to hurt students with an end goal of trying to making the program look better. You are right about debt being a huge factor that should weigh heavily in everyone’s decision!
  
  Stephen
  
  - Bridget says
    
    August 10, 2023 at 12:31 pm
    
    There was a study pulished in the Journal of Physician Assistant Education in 2012 that proposed a ranking system that used faculty:student ratios along with PANCE pass rates.
    
Larry Colart says

May 17, 2020 at 12:52 pm

Well now I feel dumb for going to une.

NPM says

October 24, 2019 at 3:30 pm

Northwestern University has had 100% pass rate for the past 6 years.