Physician Assistant: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Physician Assistant programs equip students with the advanced clinical expertise needed to deliver comprehensive medical care under physician supervision. This rigorous training emphasizes evidence-based practice, diagnostic reasoning, and patient-centered treatment across diverse healthcare environments.
- Basic Medical and Clinical Sciences: Foundational coursework in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and pathophysiology to build a strong scientific understanding of human health and disease.
- Family Medicine: Training in primary care across the lifespan, focusing on preventive services, chronic disease management, and holistic patient care.
- Pediatrics: Specialized instruction in the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents, including growth monitoring, developmental assessments, and age-specific treatment protocols.
- Obstetrics and Gynecology: Education in women’s reproductive health, prenatal care, labor and delivery support, and gynecological diagnostics and treatment.
- General Surgery: Exposure to surgical principles, preoperative and postoperative care, wound management, and procedures commonly performed in general surgical settings.
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine: Training in mental health assessment, psychiatric diagnosis, psychopharmacology, and therapeutic interventions for emotional and psychological conditions.
- Healthcare for Underserved Populations: Focus on delivering medical services to rural communities, homebound individuals, and other populations with limited access to care, emphasizing cultural competence and resource optimization.
- Community Health Services: Integration of public health principles, health promotion strategies, and population-based interventions to improve community-wide health outcomes.
Physician Assistant Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Physician Assistant Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Physician Assistant degrees, including Physician Assistants and Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 385,260 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physician Assistants 29-1071 | $133,260 | $95,240 - $182,200 | 155,540 | $64.07 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1071 | $105,620 | $51,760 - $239,200 | 229,720 | N/A |
Physician Assistant Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $92,215 in Alabama to $146,450 in District of Columbia—a 59% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Washington, and Arkansas. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 385,260 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Physician Assistant by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Physician Assistant programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Physician Assistant is found at University of Lynchburg (440 graduates), Nova Southeastern University (NSU) (242 graduates), A T Still University of Health Sciences (ATSU) (236 graduates), South College (213 graduates), and MCPHS University (MCPHS) (204 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 8,045 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Lynchburg |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
440 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | lynchburg.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Master's
|
242 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| A T Still University of Health Sciences (ATSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
236 | Kirksville, Missouri | Private | atsu.edu |
| South College |
Master's
|
213 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Private | south.edu |
| MCPHS University (MCPHS) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
204 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | mcphs.edu |
| Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
191 | Harrogate, Tennessee | Private | lmunet.edu |
| Touro University |
Master's
|
188 | New York, New York | Private | touro.edu |
| Duke University |
Master's
|
180 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Master's
|
156 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Shenandoah University (SU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
130 | Winchester, Virginia | Private | su.edu |
| Thomas Jefferson University |
Master's
|
121 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | jefferson.edu |
| Yale University |
Master's
|
115 | New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| Hofstra University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
115 | Hempstead, New York | Private | hofstra.edu |
| Pace University |
Master's
|
113 | New York, New York | Private | pace.edu |
| Barry University |
Master's
|
98 | Miami, Florida | Private | barry.edu |
| Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) |
Master's
|
96 | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | web.musc.edu |
| Midwestern University (MWU) |
Master's
|
95 | Glendale, Arizona | Private | midwestern.edu |
| Sullivan University |
Master's
|
93 | Louisville, Kentucky | Private | sullivan.edu |
| Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) |
Master's
|
90 | Pomona, California | Private | westernu.edu |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) |
Master's
|
90 | Edinburg, Texas | Public | utrgv.edu |
| The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) |
Master's
|
88 | Galveston, Texas | Public | utmb.edu |
| D'Youville University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
87 | Buffalo, New York | Private | dyu.edu |
| Wake Forest University (WFC) |
Master's
|
86 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Private | wfu.edu |
| Gannon University |
Master's
|
83 | Erie, Pennsylvania | Private | gannon.edu |
| Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
83 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | evms.edu |
| Midwestern University (MWU) |
Master's
|
82 | Downers Grove, Illinois | Private | midwestern.edu |
| Saint Francis University (SFU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
82 | Loretto, Pennsylvania | Private | francis.edu |
| Touro University Nevada (TUN) |
Master's
|
80 | Henderson, Nevada | Private | tun.touro.edu |
| Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) |
Master's
|
78 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | pcom.edu |
| Southern Illinois University |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
76 | Carbondale, Illinois | Public | siu.edu |
| Arcadia University |
Master's
|
75 | Glenside, Pennsylvania | Private | arcadia.edu |
| DeSales University |
Master's
|
74 | Center Valley, Pennsylvania | Private | desales.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OUHSC) |
Master's
|
73 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Public | ouhsc.edu |
| Le Moyne College |
Master's
|
72 | Syracuse, New York | Private | lemoyne.edu |
| South University |
Master's
|
71 | Savannah, Georgia | Private | N/A |
| Butler University |
Master's
|
71 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | butler.edu |
| King's College |
Master's
|
71 | Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania | Private | kings.edu |
| Idaho State University (ISU) |
Master's
|
70 | Pocatello, Idaho | Public | isu.edu |
| University of North Texas Health Science Center |
Master's
|
70 | Fort Worth, Texas | Public | unthsc.edu |
| Drexel University |
Master's
|
69 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
68 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| Duquesne University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
68 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | duq.edu |
| Mercer University |
Master's
|
67 | Macon, Georgia | Private | mercer.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Master's
|
67 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| St. John's University (SJU) |
Master's
|
66 | Queens, New York | Private | stjohns.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Master's
|
66 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Master's
|
64 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| Christian Brothers University (CBU) |
Master's
|
64 | Memphis, Tennessee | Private | cbu.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
|
63 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Master's
|
63 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) |
Master's
|
62 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unmc.edu |
| University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) |
Master's
|
61 | Detroit, Michigan | Private | udmercy.edu |
| Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFU) |
Master's
|
60 | North Chicago, Illinois | Private | rosalindfranklin.edu |
| University of South Alabama (USA) |
Master's
|
59 | Mobile, Alabama | Public | southalabama.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Master's
|
59 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| Wingate University |
Master's
|
59 | Wingate, North Carolina | Private | wingate.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Master's
|
58 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| Springfield College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
58 | Springfield, Massachusetts | Private | springfield.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Master's
|
57 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| Kettering College |
Master's
|
57 | Kettering, Ohio | Private | kc.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Master's
|
56 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| University of the Cumberlands |
Master's
|
56 | Williamsburg, Kentucky | Private | ucumberlands.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
56 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| Seton Hall University (SHU) |
Master's
|
56 | South Orange, New Jersey | Private | shu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Master's
|
56 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| Mercy University |
Master's
|
55 | Dobbs Ferry, New York | Private | mercy.edu |
| Campbell University |
Master's
|
55 | Buies Creek, North Carolina | Private | campbell.edu |
| Pacific University |
Master's
|
55 | Forest Grove, Oregon | Private | pacificu.edu |
| University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center |
Master's
|
55 | Dallas, Texas | Public | utsouthwestern.edu |
| Rocky Mountain College (RMC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
54 | Billings, Montana | Private | rocky.edu |
| Wagner College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
54 | Staten Island, New York | Private | wagner.edu |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) |
Master's
|
53 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttuhsc.edu |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Master's
|
53 | Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | commonwealthu.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Master's
|
52 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Marist College |
Master's
|
52 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | marist.edu |
| Quinnipiac University (QU) |
Master's
|
51 | Hamden, Connecticut | Private | qu.edu |
| Chatham University |
Master's
|
51 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | chatham.edu |
| Trevecca Nazarene University (TNU) |
Master's
|
51 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | trevecca.edu |
| South University |
Master's
|
50 | Royal Palm Beach, Florida | Private | N/A |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Master's
|
50 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| Emory University |
Master's
|
50 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
50 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMB) |
Master's
|
50 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umaryland.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Master's
|
50 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Ohio Dominican University (ODU) |
Master's
|
50 | Columbus, Ohio | Private | ohiodominican.edu |
| Marywood University |
Master's
|
50 | Scranton, Pennsylvania | Private | marywood.edu |
| Bethel University |
Master's
|
50 | McKenzie, Tennessee | Private | bethelu.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Master's
|
49 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| Bay Path University |
Master's
|
49 | Longmeadow, Massachusetts | Private | baypath.edu |
| Daemen University |
Master's
|
49 | Amherst, New York | Private | daemen.edu |
| Salus University |
Master's
|
49 | Elkins Park, Pennsylvania | Private | salus.edu |
| South University |
Master's
|
49 | Tampa, Florida | Private | N/A |
| Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMU) |
Master's
|
49 | Provo, Utah | Private | rm.edu |
| West Coast University (WCU) |
Master's
|
49 | Richardson, Texas | Private | westcoastuniversity.edu |
| Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) |
Master's
|
48 | Whittier, California | Private | scuhs.edu |
| Tufts University |
Master's
|
48 | Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) |
Master's
|
48 | Old Westbury, New York | Private | nyit.edu |
| Bryant University |
Master's
|
48 | Smithfield, Rhode Island | Private | bryant.edu |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center |
Master's
|
48 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | uthscsa.edu |
| Touro University California (TUC) |
Master's
|
48 | Vallejo, California | Private | tu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Physician Assistant programs
How much can I earn with a Physician Assistant degree?
Salaries for Physician Assistant graduates vary by role and location. Physician Assistants earn a median of $133,260 annually, while Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $105,620. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $146,450 compared to $92,215 in Alabama. Approximately 385,260 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Physician Assistant programs?
Currently 262 accredited institutions offer Physician Assistant degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Lynchburg (440 graduates), Nova Southeastern University (NSU) (242 graduates), and A T Still University of Health Sciences (ATSU) (236 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Physician Assistant growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 5,835 in 2010 to 13,046 in 2023-24. This represents a 124% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Physician Assistant degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Physician Assistants, Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, . Related occupations employ approximately 385,260 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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