How Much Does Physician Assistant Program Cost?

$ Medium: Two Year Programs At Public Universities Can Cost $2,300-$70,000 In-State

$ $ High: Two Year Programs at Private Universities Can Run Around $60,000

The physician assistant practices medicine while under the supervision of a physician or surgeon.

Most physician assistants already have a bachelor’s degree and train about two years to provide diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive health care services.

Typical Costs

In general, the tuition costs ranged from $2,300-$99,950 in 2007 for the 27-month course, according to the Physician Assistant Programs Directory, which is maintained by the Physician Assistant Education Association and is available for a $35 annual subscription fee.

All rates are listed for free at each of the individual university websites.

The public universities provide physician assistant programs that generally charge at the lower end of the scale.

Also, there is a wide range of price points even within the same state.

For example, the tuition, books and supplies at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant cost about $15,300 for two years and around $47,000 at Wayne State in Detroit.

The students at the University of Washington in Seattle pay approx. $59,600 (around $30,000 each year) for a two-year program.

Due to state funding requirements at public universities, the students from out of the area spend approx. $17,450-$75,000 or more each year for the same programs.

The private schools’ tuition varies like in public institutions, but without state support, the colleges generally cost more.

The students at Duke University in North Carolina entering in 2008 will pay about $55,680 for the two-year program, while the physician assistants at Yale University in New Haven Connecticut need to pay over $68,000 on tuition alone for their 2 years and four-month program.

Additional Costs

• The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants Exam costs approx. $600 and must be maintained through continued education and testing.
• The books can run $1,500-$4,300 annually.
• The needed laptop and necessary medical supplies can add $3,000-$5,000.

Discounts

• The American Academy of Physicians Assistants secures online scholarship information.
• The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the first step toward a grant, a student loan or scholarship.

Shopping For A Physician Assistant Program

The American Academy of Physicians Assistants maintains a list of accredited programs by state.