PA school tuition
PA school tuition for the whole program has a median of $56,718 at public schools for residents, $88,168 for non-residents and $96,960 at private schools, according to the latest Physician Assistant Education Association program survey.[paea] These are totals for the full professional phase, not per year, and they exclude fees. The survey's tuition year is 2020–21, the most recent PAEA has published; the trend table shows tuition rising 3% to 10% a year before that, so current prices are higher.
| Program type | Median | Mean | Programs reporting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public, resident/in-state | $56,718 | $57,955 | 55 |
| Public, non-resident | $88,168 | $96,171 | 55 |
| Private (standard tuition) | $96,960 | $100,212 | 129 |
| Program fees (all programs) | $5,239 | $7,914 | 187 |
| Academic year | Public in-state | Public out-of-state | Private |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | $38,794 | $68,311 | $74,475 |
| 2016–17 | $47,886 | $85,401 | $87,160 |
| 2018–19 | $52,585 | $93,313 | $95,058 |
| 2020–21 | $57,955 | $96,171 | $100,212 |
Means. Tuition was not collected for 2019–20. Fees include equipment, technology, clinical, lab, health service and textbook charges itemized by 187 programs.
Tuition and fees are only part of the bill. A 27-month program also means more than two years of rent, food, transport and health insurance, plus travel to clinical rotations; living costs depend on the city and are listed in each program's official cost of attendance.
How long is PA school?
PA school takes a median of 27 months, typically about one year of classroom and laboratory work followed by about one year of clinical rotations; programs reported lengths from 24 to 40 months.[paea] Physician assistants need a master's degree from an accredited program, and there are 340 programs accredited by ARC-PA.[ooh_pa][arcpa]
PA school loans after July 2026
PA students can borrow at most $20,500 a year and $100,000 in total in federal Direct Unsubsidized loans from July 1, 2026, and Grad PLUS loans are closed to new borrowers.[fsa_limits] The Education Department considered treating PA programs as professional degrees, which carry the higher $50,000 and $200,000 limits, and declined: its final rule states that it “declines to include PA programs as professional degree programs”.[fr_rule]
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Tuition + fees, private median | $102,200 |
| Federal Direct loans available | $46,125 |
| Left to cover from savings, family or private loans | $56,075 |
| Interest by the first payment, if all borrowed | $17,182 |
At the private median, tuition and fees alone come to $102,200, above what federal loans now cover, before any living costs. The 2026–27 Direct Unsubsidized rate for graduate students is 8.07%.[fsa] Students already borrowing for their program before July 1, 2026 keep the old limits for a limited time.[fsa_limits]
Is PA school worth it?
PA school is a large bill against a high starting salary: the 25th-percentile PA salary is $120,670 and the median $135,880 (BLS, May 2025).[onet_pa] A $100,000 federal balance at 8.07% over 10 years costs about $1,217 a month, roughly 16% of take-home pay at the 25th percentile.[fsa][irs] BLS projects PA employment to grow 21% from 2025 to 2035.[ooh_pa]
PA school payback calculator
Payback mathCost, time in school, the pay you give up and your first PA salary: how long until the program has paid for itself.
Program payback · 2026 tax on the raise
1.6 years after graduation
Break-even about 46 months after the first class · 10-year gain after costs $788,977
| Tuition, fees, books, exams | $102,199 |
|---|---|
| Pay given up while in school | $0 |
| Loan interest | $46,037 |
| Total cost | $148,236 |
| Raise after tax, per year | $93,721 |
| Loan payment | $1,217/mo (12.1% of gross) |
After-tax share of the raise: 77.7% (single filer, federal + FICA). Nominal dollars, no discounting.
Estimate, not a job offer. Arithmetic on your inputs. The raise is taxed with 2026 federal income tax and FICA for a single filer.
The default cost is the PAEA private median tuition plus fees; enter your program's own cost of attendance. For pay by state see physician assistant salary, compare with the longer physician route on how much medical school costs, and see what physicians earn on doctor salary.
Frequently asked questions
How much does PA school cost in total?
Median total tuition was $56,718 (public, in-state), $88,168 (public, out-of-state) and $96,960 (private) in PAEA's latest survey, plus a median $5,239 in fees and your living costs.
How long is PA school?
A median of 27 months: about a year of classes followed by about a year of clinical rotations.
How much can I borrow for PA school?
From July 1, 2026, new borrowers can take up to $20,500 a year and $100,000 in total in federal Direct Unsubsidized loans. PA programs are not on the professional-degree list, and Grad PLUS is closed to new borrowers.
Is PA school worth it?
It depends on your cost and starting pay: compare a $120,670 25th-percentile PA salary with about $102,199 in median private tuition and fees, plus living costs. The payback calculator does the arithmetic with your own numbers.
Sources
- Program Report 36: Data from the 2021 Program Survey (tuition AY 2020–21; program length)
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Physician Assistants
- Entry Level Program Data: total accredited PA programs (340)
- Frequently Asked Questions: Loan Limits (Working Families Tax Cuts Act)
- Federal Student Loan Program Final Regulations: definition of professional student and degree list (FR Doc. 2026-08556)
- Interest Rates for Federal Direct Loans First Disbursed Between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027
- Local Wages: 29-1071.00 Physician assistant (PA) (national, state and metro percentiles)
- IRS releases tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026 (Rev. Proc. 2025-32)