How much does PA school cost?
PA school tuition for the whole program averaged about $58,000 for in-state students at public programs, $96,000 for out-of-state students at public programs and $100,000 at private programs in 2020–21, the latest year in PAEA's national program survey. Expect today's prices to be higher, and add fees and living costs. Among 2022 graduating PA students with PA-school debt, the median expected debt was in the $100,000 to $124,999 range.
Tuition for the whole program (2020–21)
| Program type | Mean | Median | Middle 80% of reporting programs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public, in-state | $57,955 | $56,718 | $36,661 to $81,141 |
| Public, out-of-state | $96,171 | $88,168 | $70,167 to $135,715 |
| Private | $100,212 | $96,960 | $84,000 to $117,000 |
Source: PAEA Program Report 36 (2021 program survey; 55 public and 129 private programs reported tuition). Tuition is PAEA's "estimated current total tuition" for the whole professional phase, excluding fees. Nearly every private program (130 of 131) charges one rate regardless of residency. Tuition rose in every PAEA survey from 2013–14 to 2020–21 (the private average went from $74,475 to $100,212), and PAEA hasn't published newer national figures, so budget from each program's current price, not these averages.
Fees and living costs come on top
- Fees: Among 187 programs that itemized the student fees they collect (such as technology, lab, clinical, equipment, textbook and student-health fees), the total averaged $7,914 (median $5,239).
- Living costs: Rent, food, transportation and travel to clinical rotations aren't in tuition. PA programs run nearly year-round: in PAEA's 2021 survey, the median program had 8 weeks of vacation in total across the whole program, so budget living costs for every month, not just a school year.
- One real example: At UNC Chapel Hill, estimated tuition for the whole program (published for the Class of 2027) is $62,142 for North Carolina residents and $109,034 for nonresidents, plus $6,550 in fees, and then living costs. Later classes may pay more.
Debt
| Expected debt from PA school | Share of 2022 graduating students with PA-school debt |
|---|---|
| $1 to $99,999 | 32.7% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 34.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 23.2% |
| $200,000 or more | 9.6% |
Source: PAEA Student Report 6, Table 42 (2022 End of Program Survey of graduating students; 1,614 respondents with PA-school debt; students with no PA-school debt aren't included; excludes personal debt). In the same survey, 83.0% of graduating respondents said they took out loans for PA school. Among board-certified PAs who answered NCCPA's 2025 profile (PAs at every career stage, many of whom have paid loans down), 43.3% reported no current educational debt and 17.5% reported $150,000 or more, from undergraduate and graduate programs combined.
Federal loans for PA school changed in 2026
New federal limits on graduate borrowing took effect in July 2026, and how they apply to PA students is being decided in court. See paying for PA school: 2026 federal loan limits before you count on a loan amount.
How to compare costs
- Get each program's full cost of attendance: tuition, fees and living costs for the whole program. Check whether a figure is per year, per semester or for the whole program.
- Check in-state rules if you're looking at public programs in your state.
- Add application costs. CASPA alone is $185 for the first program and $65 for each additional one in 2026–27 (see how much CASPA costs).
- Ask each financial aid office about scholarships and what loans you can expect.
This guide explains published data and isn't financial advice. Costs change every year; confirm with each program and its financial aid office.
Related guides
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Get the free kit →Quick answers
How much does PA school cost?
In PAEA's latest national program survey (2020–21 academic year), tuition for the whole program averaged $57,955 for in-state students at public programs, $96,171 for out-of-state students at public programs and $100,212 at private programs, before fees and living costs. Those are 2020–21 figures, the latest PAEA has published; tuition rose every survey year from 2013–14 to 2020–21, so expect current prices to be higher and check each program's own cost of attendance.
How much debt do PA students graduate with?
In PAEA's 2022 survey of graduating PA students, 83% said they took out loans for PA school. Among those reporting PA-school debt, about half (51%) expected less than $125,000 and 9.6% expected $200,000 or more, excluding personal debt.
Is PA school cheaper at a public program?
For in-state students, usually. In PAEA's 2020–21 data, average whole-program tuition was $57,955 for in-state students at public programs, compared with $96,171 for out-of-state students at public programs and $100,212 at private programs.
Sources (all opened October 2026)
- PAEA Program Report 36 (2021 program survey; tuition for the 2020–21 academic year): https://e1.nmcdn.io/assets/paea/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/PAEA-PR36-final-v5-3_updated-2-9-24.pdf
- PAEA Student Report 6 (2022 Matriculating Student and End of Program Surveys): https://paeaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/FINAL_student-report-6-2025-01-13.pdf
- NCCPA: 2025 Statistical Profile of Board Certified PAs (published May 2026): https://www.nccpa.net/wp-content/uploads/documents/2025-Statistical-Profile-of-Board-Certified-PAs.pdf
- UNC Chapel Hill PA Program: Tuition: https://www.med.unc.edu/healthsciences/unc-pa/admissions/tuition/
- CASPA Applicant Help Center: CASPA application fees (2026–27): https://help.liaisonedu.com/CASPA_Applicant_Help_Center/Starting_Your_CASPA_Application/Getting_Started_with_Your_CASPA_Application/3_CASPA_Application_Fees