PA (physician assistant) school cost in 2026
PA (physician assistant) school costs $25,045 to $219,933 per full program in 2026, and most people pay about $98,075.
What moves the price
- Public or private school changes the price a lot.
- State residents pay less at many public schools.
- The state where the school sits affects tuition.
- Program length changes the total.
- Fees, books and living costs add to tuition.
- Where you live. Prices in big cities usually run higher than in small towns.
What is included
The range is per full program (about 27 months), tuition only. The tuition number covers classes for the whole program. Required fees have a median of about $7,000, and books, equipment and living costs are extra.
Average total tuition, 27 month programs (PAEA data, 2025 to 2026)
| Group | Average tuition |
|---|---|
| All programs, resident | $98,075 |
| All programs, nonresident | $107,288 |
| Public, resident | About $56,718 |
| Public, nonresident | About $88,168 |
| Private | $91,639 |
Average prices in US dollars. Source: The Physician Assistant Life.
Ways to pay less
- Look at public schools in the home state, which have the lowest resident tuition.
- Compare total program tuition, not just the price per year.
- Check scholarships from state and national PA groups.
What price guides say
We checked 3 price guides and read every number on their pages. They do not all measure the same thing, so the ranges on this page come from putting them side by side.
- The Physician Assistant Life: How Much Does it Cost to go to Physician Assistant (PA) School?
- SoFi: How Much Does Physician Assistant (PA) School Cost?
- International Medical Aid: Physician Assistant School Cost in 2026
Common questions
How much does this cost in 2026?
PA (physician assistant) school costs $25,045 to $219,933 per full program in 2026, and most people pay about $98,075. Most people pay about $98,075 per full program. The low end is $25,045 and the high end is $219,933.
What changes the price the most?
The biggest factors are: Public or private school changes the price a lot; State residents pay less at many public schools; The state where the school sits affects tuition.
How can I pay less?
Look at public schools in the home state, which have the lowest resident tuition. Compare total program tuition, not just the price per year. Check scholarships from state and national PA groups.
Where do these numbers come from?
From 3 named price guides: The Physician Assistant Life, SoFi, International Medical Aid. Each one is linked on this page with the date we read it.
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