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You will not be alone if you pursue a degree in physician assistant. The field of study is the country's 71st most popular program. As a result, there are numerous options to consider when deciding where to pursue your degree.

Going to school for Physician Assistant Studies is a wise decision and often a necessary first step for students who want to work as a physicians assistant, pulmonology physicians assistant, or neurology physicians assistant. In fact, physician assistant studies is a one-of-a-kind major, ranking as the 272nd most popular. There were 538 graduates of physician assistant studies in the previous year. In-state tuition for physician assistant studies at private institutions is 3.1 times higher on average.

Top 10+ Most Prestigious Physician Assistant Colleges In The US Today

1. University of Wisconsin-Madison

https://www.wisc.edu/

U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Physician Assistant program third in the country. The 27-month, 105-credit master's degree program combines classroom instruction, laboratory work, and clinical rotations.

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2. University of Iowa

https://uiowa.edu/

Minimum Cumulative GPA: 3.0

Minimum Science GPA: 3.2

Degree Requirements: Bachelor’s degree or higher

Minimum Grade Required for Prerequisite Courses: Letter grade preferred; pass/fail grades accepted on individual basis

Over the course of the 27-month PA program at Carver College of Medicine, students are exposed to early clinical experiences. The CCOM employs a cutting-edge "triple-helix curriculum" that incorporates three distinct theoretical strands into the overall program: Mechanisms of Health and Disease, Medicine and Society, and Clinical and Professional Skills.

The Mechanisms of Health and Disease track is similar to the systems-based approach used to train physicians and physician assistants at other medical schools. The difference in this program is that students learn the fundamentals of human anatomy and physiology as well as diseases and disorders that can impair and affect these systems.

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3. Duke University

https://duke.edu/

Minimum Overall GPA: 2.79

Science GPA: 2.78

Degree Requirements: Bachelor’s degree or higher

Minimum Grade for Prerequisite Courses: C or higher; pass/fail grades accepted

The Duke University School of Medicine can claim that it is the birthplace of the physician assistant profession, which no other PA program in the country can. Dr. Eugene A. Stead Jr., then-chairman of the Department of Medicine, established the first-of-its-kind physician assistant program in order to address a national doctor shortage in postwar America.

The university's PA program has worked hard to live up to its legacy while also remaining at the forefront of PA educational advances, ensuring that students receive the most up-to-date pre-clinical and clinical training. As students are exposed to clinical experiences early on, the 28-month curriculum focuses on integrating several components into those months.

4. Thomas Jefferson University

https://www.jefferson.edu/

Thomas Jefferson University, located in Philadelphia, is a private, non-profit university with a medium-sized student body. In Pennsylvania, this university is ranked 11th out of 117 schools for overall quality.

In the most recent data year, approximately 121 physician assistant students graduated from Thomas Jefferson University.

Physician Assistant is well-liked at Thomas Jefferson University.

As a result, the school was ranked #10 in terms of popularity among all colleges and universities that offer this degree.

5. Loma Linda University

https://llu.edu/

Every student interested in a career as a physician assistant should look into Loma Linda University. Loma Linda University, located in the Loma Linda suburbs, is a private, non-profit university with a small student population.

In the most recent data year, approximately 36 physician assistant students graduated from Loma Linda University.

6. University of Utah

https://www.utah.edu/

Minimum Combined GPA: 2.70

Competitive GPA: 3.0

Degree Requirements: Bachelor’s degree or higher

Minimum Grade Required for Prerequisite Courses: B or higher

The University of Utah's PA program takes a local-is-global approach to its curriculum, which it describes as a "mission-based program" in which students work in underserved communities both in the United States and abroad. In the third semester of their first year, students are paired with a professional PA to promote mentorship and guided learning. The student assists the licensed PA in examining patients, taking patient histories, and recommending different therapies based on the patient's condition. This duo meets every Friday - the program is known as the Friday Clinic - and the student assists the licensed PA in examining patients, taking patient histories, and recommending different therapies based on the patient's condition. This program lasts until students successfully complete the PA curriculum and is regarded as one of the program's main highlights at the University of Utah.

7. University of Colorado

https://www.colorado.edu/

Combined Cumulative and Science GPA: 3.0

Degree Requirements: Bachelor’s degree or higher

Minium Grade for Required Prerequisite Courses: C or higher; pass/fail grades not accepted (exception for courses taken during the pandemic)

One distinguishing feature of the University of Colorado's PA program is that it began with a focus solely on the medical needs of children, infants, and teenagers, making it the first of its kind among other PA programs offered at Colorado medical schools. The program later broadened its scope and added a curriculum to meet the needs of people at all stages of life.

The Colorado Curriculum, which substitutes a performative model for the traditional in-class, instructor-led course, has replaced the original CHA/PA curriculum. This means that first and second year students interact with a live patient model who exhibits symptoms (for example, breathing problems) associated with the body system being studied, such as the respiratory system.

8. University of Nebraska Medical Center

https://www.unmc.edu/

The University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Physician Assistant program is ranked #9 in the country by U.S. News & World Report. The program is a 27-month, 105-credit master’s degree program that includes a mix of classroom instruction, laboratory work, and clinical rotations.

9. The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

https://uthscsa.edu/

Every student interested in becoming a physician assistant should look into The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. UT Health San Antonio is a small public university in San Antonio, Texas.

In the most recent data year, approximately 44 physician assistant students graduated from UT Health San Antonio with this degree.

10. Northwestern University

https://www.northwestern.edu/

Northwestern is a large private, non-profit university in the small city of Evanston. Northwestern is a great university in general, with a Best Colleges ranking of #5 out of 2,241 schools nationwide.

In the most recent year for which data is available, approximately 36 physician assistant students graduated from Northwestern.

11. University of Alabama at Birmingham

https://www.uab.edu/home/

U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Physician Assistant program eighth in the country. The 27-month, 105-credit master's degree program combines classroom instruction, laboratory work, and clinical rotations.

12. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center’s Physician Assistant program is ranked #10 in the country by U.S. News & World Report. The program is a 27-month, 105-credit master’s degree program that includes a mix of classroom instruction, laboratory work, and clinical rotations.

Conclusion

When considering the most prestigious colleges for physician assistant programs, it is critical to research and visit schools of interest, speak with current students and faculty, and check accreditation status. The colleges and universities mentioned in this article are considered to have some of the best PA programs in the country, but it's always best to evaluate and compare programs based on your specific needs and preferences.

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