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, University of Iowa, and Rutgers University School of Health Professions) and worst (South University, Richmond, and West Liberty University) 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
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
Best Physician Assistant Programs: Latest U.S. News Rankings
Updated July 2026: The table below lists 206 physician assistant/associate (PA) programs in the latest PA-specific rankings published by U.S. News & World Report. The rankings were released in 2025 as part of the 2025–2026 Best Graduate Schools edition. U.S. News did not re-evaluate physician assistant programs for its 2026–2027 edition, so these remain the most current PA rankings available.
U.S. News based the rankings on peer-assessment surveys completed by academics at accredited PA programs. Each peer-assessment score ranges from 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding). These scores measure academic reputation; they do not directly measure tuition, PANCE pass rates, attrition, clinical opportunities, or student satisfaction.
I identified 130 active accredited PA programs that did not appear as separate entries: 56 with Accreditation-Continued, 56 with Accreditation-Provisional, and 18 with Accreditation-Probation.
Rankings and peer-assessment scores are reproduced from the 2025 U.S. News Best Physician Assistant Programs table. Program links point to the corresponding PA School Finder profile.
How Much Should PA School Rankings Matter?
A high ranking can indicate strong recognition among PA educators, but it does not automatically make a program the best choice for every applicant. Compare each program's current ARC-PA accreditation status, total cost of attendance, PANCE performance, attrition rate, curriculum, clinical rotations, location, class size, and student support before deciding where to apply.
Use the U.S. News rankings as a starting point—not as a substitute for evaluating the factors that will shape your education, finances, and future career.
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I didn’t see UNM which I graduated from an 05 and it was a fantastic program. Yes we had a cadaver and yes, we got to hear all the medical school lectures in the morning before doing the PA program in the afternoon. It was rigorous comprehensive and I just didn’t see its ranking.
Hi Lois,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! The University of New Mexico definitely has a fantastic and rigorous program. It is actually ranked #75 (tie) in the latest U.S. News Physician Assistant rankings. Sounds like it should have ranked higher!
Best,
Stephen
Where is slipperry Rock on this list?
I feel like these rankings are worthless. Quinnipiac is on probationary status now, and yet it’s still ranked #16? I feel like they need to take into consideration additional criteria if they’re going to put out a ranking of these programs.
University of Washington is also on probation and still #20. What a joke
Hello, where does Marist PA Program rank on this list?
#169 https://www.thepalife.com/what-are-the-best-pa-schools-physician-assistant-school-rankings/#:~:text=169%20(tie)-,Marist%20College,-NY
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.
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.
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
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.
Well now I feel dumb for going to une.
Northwestern University has had 100% pass rate for the past 6 years.