Physician Assistant: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Q: 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).

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

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)

13,046

Total Graduates (2023-2024)

262

Universities & Colleges

Career Pathways

Career & Salary Outlook Schools Offering This Program Related Programs

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

Salary Comparison

Data Source: Salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2024 estimates, based on 2 related occupations. Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics.

*Salary Range Explanation: The salary range represents the 10th to 90th percentile, meaning 80% of workers in this occupation earn within this range. This excludes the lowest 10% and highest 10% of earners to provide a more realistic picture of typical compensation.

Important Disclaimer: Salary data represents national averages and varies by location, experience, employer, and market conditions. These statistics are estimates for general guidance and do not guarantee specific employment outcomes for graduates.

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	Admissions	Location	Control	Website
University of Lynchburg	Master's Doctorate (P)	440	SAT: 980-1230	Lynchburg, Virginia	Private	lynchburg.edu
Nova Southeastern University (NSU)	Master's	242	SAT: 1050-1310 ACT: 21-28	Fort Lauderdale, Florida	Private	nova.edu
A T Still University of Health Sciences (ATSU)	Postbac Cert. Master's Doctorate (R)	236	N/A	Kirksville, Missouri	Private	atsu.edu
South College	Master's	213	N/A	Knoxville, Tennessee	Private	south.edu
MCPHS University (MCPHS)	Master's Doctorate (P)	204	SAT: 1080-1340 ACT: 23-33	Boston, Massachusetts	Private	mcphs.edu
Lincoln Memorial University (LMU)	Master's Doctorate (R)	191	SAT: 1006-1220 ACT: 19-24	Harrogate, Tennessee	Private	lmunet.edu
Touro University	Master's	188	SAT: 1275-1440 ACT: 28-33	New York, New York	Private	touro.edu
Duke University	Master's	180	SAT: 1510-1570 ACT: 34-35	Durham, North Carolina	Private	duke.edu
University of Washington (UW)	Master's	156	N/A	Seattle, Washington	Public	washington.edu
Shenandoah University (SU)	Master's Doctorate (P)	130	N/A	Winchester, Virginia	Private	su.edu
Thomas Jefferson University	Master's	121	SAT: 1150-1350 ACT: 27-32	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Private	jefferson.edu
Yale University	Master's	115	SAT: 1500-1580 ACT: 33-35	New Haven, Connecticut	Private	yale.edu
Hofstra University	Bachelor's Master's	115	SAT: 1210-1380 ACT: 27-31	Hempstead, New York	Private	hofstra.edu
Pace University	Master's	113	SAT: 1130-1328 ACT: 24-29	New York, New York	Private	pace.edu
Barry University	Master's	98	N/A	Miami, Florida	Private	barry.edu
Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)	Master's	96	N/A	Charleston, South Carolina	Public	web.musc.edu
Midwestern University (MWU)	Master's	95	N/A	Glendale, Arizona	Private	midwestern.edu
Sullivan University	Master's	93	N/A	Louisville, Kentucky	Private	sullivan.edu
Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU)	Master's	90	N/A	Pomona, California	Private	westernu.edu
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV)	Master's	90	SAT: 910-1110 ACT: 16-22	Edinburg, Texas	Public	utrgv.edu
The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)	Master's	88	N/A	Galveston, Texas	Public	utmb.edu
D'Youville University	Bachelor's Master's	87	SAT: 885-1190	Buffalo, New York	Private	dyu.edu
Wake Forest University (WFC)	Master's	86	SAT: 1390-1510 ACT: 32-34	Winston-Salem, North Carolina	Private	wfu.edu
Gannon University	Master's	83	N/A	Erie, Pennsylvania	Private	gannon.edu
Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS)	Master's Doctorate (R)	83	N/A	Norfolk, Virginia	Public	evms.edu
Midwestern University (MWU)	Master's	82	N/A	Downers Grove, Illinois	Private	midwestern.edu
Saint Francis University (SFU)	Bachelor's Master's	82	SAT: 1020-1250 ACT: 21-26	Loretto, Pennsylvania	Private	francis.edu
Touro University Nevada (TUN)	Master's	80	N/A	Henderson, Nevada	Private	tun.touro.edu
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM)	Master's	78	N/A	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Private	pcom.edu
Southern Illinois University	Master's Doctorate (P)	76	SAT: 910-1140 ACT: 20-27	Carbondale, Illinois	Public	siu.edu
Arcadia University	Master's	75	SAT: 1083-1310 ACT: 26-30	Glenside, Pennsylvania	Private	arcadia.edu
DeSales University	Master's	74	SAT: 1090-1290 ACT: 24-28	Center Valley, Pennsylvania	Private	desales.edu
University of Oklahoma (OUHSC)	Master's	73	N/A	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	Public	ouhsc.edu
Le Moyne College	Master's	72	SAT: 1160-1340 ACT: 25-31	Syracuse, New York	Private	lemoyne.edu
South University	Master's	71	N/A	Savannah, Georgia	Private	N/A
Butler University	Master's	71	SAT: 1180-1360 ACT: 26-31	Indianapolis, Indiana	Private	butler.edu
King's College	Master's	71	SAT: 1060-1240 ACT: 19-25	Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania	Private	kings.edu
Idaho State University (ISU)	Master's	70	N/A	Pocatello, Idaho	Public	isu.edu
University of North Texas Health Science Center	Master's	70	N/A	Fort Worth, Texas	Public	unthsc.edu
Drexel University	Master's	69	SAT: 1230-1430 ACT: 27-33	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Private	drexel.edu
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)	Bachelor's Master's	68	SAT: 1280-1460 ACT: 29-33	Rochester, New York	Private	rit.edu
Duquesne University	Bachelor's Master's	68	SAT: 1160-1350 ACT: 26-31	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Private	duq.edu
Mercer University	Master's	67	SAT: 1180-1350 ACT: 25-31	Macon, Georgia	Private	mercer.edu
University of Utah (U of U)	Master's	67	SAT: 1180-1398 ACT: 22-29	Salt Lake City, Utah	Public	utah.edu
St. John's University (SJU)	Master's	66	SAT: 1110-1320 ACT: 24-29	Queens, New York	Private	stjohns.edu
Stony Brook University (SBU)	Master's	66	SAT: 1320-1490 ACT: 28-33	Stony Brook, New York	Public	stonybrook.edu
George Washington University (GW)	Master's	64	SAT: 1350-1500 ACT: 31-34	Washington, District of Columbia	Private	gwu.edu
Christian Brothers University (CBU)	Master's	64	SAT: 1040-1300 ACT: 18-23	Memphis, Tennessee	Private	cbu.edu
University of Southern California (USC)	Master's	63	SAT: 1440-1550 ACT: 32-35	Los Angeles, California	Private	usc.edu
University of Pittsburgh	Master's	63	SAT: 1270-1450 ACT: 29-33	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Public	pitt.edu
University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)	Master's	62	N/A	Omaha, Nebraska	Public	unmc.edu
University of Detroit Mercy (UDM)	Master's	61	SAT: 1020-1260 ACT: 22-28	Detroit, Michigan	Private	udmercy.edu
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFU)	Master's	60	N/A	North Chicago, Illinois	Private	rosalindfranklin.edu
University of South Alabama (USA)	Master's	59	SAT: 1015-1200 ACT: 19-26	Mobile, Alabama	Public	southalabama.edu
University of Florida (UF)	Master's	59	SAT: 1300-1480 ACT: 28-33	Gainesville, Florida	Public	ufl.edu
Wingate University	Master's	59	SAT: 990-1270 ACT: 18-24	Wingate, North Carolina	Private	wingate.edu
Florida State University (FSU)	Master's	58	SAT: 1240-1390 ACT: 27-31	Tallahassee, Florida	Public	fsu.edu
Springfield College	Bachelor's Master's	58	SAT: 1070-1260	Springfield, Massachusetts	Private	springfield.edu
Northern Arizona University (NAU)	Master's	57	N/A	Flagstaff, Arizona	Public	nau.edu
Kettering College	Master's	57	ACT: 18-26	Kettering, Ohio	Private	kc.edu
University of Alabama (UAB)	Master's	56	SAT: 1130-1400 ACT: 22-30	Birmingham, Alabama	Public	uab.edu
University of the Cumberlands	Master's	56	N/A	Williamsburg, Kentucky	Private	ucumberlands.edu
Western Michigan University (WMU)	Bachelor's Master's	56	SAT: 990-1220 ACT: 20-27	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Public	wmich.edu
Seton Hall University (SHU)	Master's	56	SAT: 1220-1400 ACT: 27-31	South Orange, New Jersey	Private	shu.edu
University of Wisconsin-Madison	Master's	56	SAT: 1360-1510 ACT: 28-32	Madison, Wisconsin	Public	wisc.edu
Mercy University	Master's	55	N/A	Dobbs Ferry, New York	Private	mercy.edu
Campbell University	Master's	55	N/A	Buies Creek, North Carolina	Private	campbell.edu
Pacific University	Master's	55	SAT: 990-1240 ACT: 17-28	Forest Grove, Oregon	Private	pacificu.edu
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center	Master's	55	N/A	Dallas, Texas	Public	utsouthwestern.edu
Rocky Mountain College (RMC)	Master's Doctorate (P)	54	SAT: 990-1240 ACT: 19-24	Billings, Montana	Private	rocky.edu
Wagner College	Bachelor's Master's	54	SAT: 1150-1320 ACT: 23-27	Staten Island, New York	Private	wagner.edu
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC)	Master's	53	N/A	Lubbock, Texas	Public	ttuhsc.edu
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU)	Certificate (1-2 yrs) Master's	53	SAT: 970-1180 ACT: 18-25	Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania	Public	commonwealthu.edu
University of Kentucky (UK)	Master's	52	SAT: 1080-1290 ACT: 21-28	Lexington, Kentucky	Public	uky.edu
Marist College	Master's	52	SAT: 1220-1360 ACT: 27-30	Poughkeepsie, New York	Private	marist.edu
Quinnipiac University (QU)	Master's	51	SAT: 1100-1300 ACT: 25-29	Hamden, Connecticut	Private	qu.edu
Chatham University	Master's	51	SAT: 1070-1290 ACT: 23-27	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Private	chatham.edu
Trevecca Nazarene University (TNU)	Master's	51	SAT: 973-1193 ACT: 18-24	Nashville, Tennessee	Private	trevecca.edu
South University	Master's	50	N/A	Royal Palm Beach, Florida	Private	N/A
University of South Florida (USF)	Master's	50	SAT: 1140-1330 ACT: 24-29	Tampa, Florida	Public	usf.edu
Emory University	Master's	50	SAT: 1460-1550 ACT: 32-34	Atlanta, Georgia	Private	emory.edu
University of Iowa	Master's Post-Master's	50	SAT: 1130-1320 ACT: 22-28	Iowa City, Iowa	Public	uiowa.edu
University of Maryland (UMB)	Master's	50	N/A	Baltimore, Maryland	Public	umaryland.edu
Northeastern University (NU)	Master's	50	SAT: 1460-1550 ACT: 33-35	Boston, Massachusetts	Private	northeastern.edu
Ohio Dominican University (ODU)	Master's	50	ACT: 20-28	Columbus, Ohio	Private	ohiodominican.edu
Marywood University	Master's	50	SAT: 1050-1240 ACT: 21-26	Scranton, Pennsylvania	Private	marywood.edu
Bethel University	Master's	50	SAT: 625-1100 ACT: 16-24	McKenzie, Tennessee	Private	bethelu.edu
Wichita State University (WSU)	Master's	49	SAT: 970-1250 ACT: 18-26	Wichita, Kansas	Public	wichita.edu
Bay Path University	Master's	49	N/A	Longmeadow, Massachusetts	Private	baypath.edu
Daemen University	Master's	49	N/A	Amherst, New York	Private	daemen.edu
Salus University	Master's	49	N/A	Elkins Park, Pennsylvania	Private	salus.edu
South University	Master's	49	N/A	Tampa, Florida	Private	N/A
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMU)	Master's	49	N/A	Provo, Utah	Private	rm.edu
West Coast University (WCU)	Master's	49	N/A	Richardson, Texas	Private	westcoastuniversity.edu
Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU)	Master's	48	N/A	Whittier, California	Private	scuhs.edu
Tufts University	Master's	48	SAT: 1460-1550 ACT: 33-35	Medford, Massachusetts	Private	tufts.edu
New York Institute of Technology (NYIT)	Master's	48	SAT: 1180-1390 ACT: 25-33	Old Westbury, New York	Private	nyit.edu
Bryant University	Master's	48	SAT: 1160-1340 ACT: 28-32	Smithfield, Rhode Island	Private	bryant.edu
The University of Texas Health Science Center	Master's	48	N/A	San Antonio, Texas	Public	uthscsa.edu
Touro University California (TUC)	Master's	48	N/A	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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