Top 20 Physician Assistant Programs in Houston, TX – 2026
The demand for physician assistants (PAs) continues to grow rapidly across the country due to increasing healthcare needs and a shortage of primary care doctors. With a 19% job growth rate nationally from 2021-2031, the PA profession provides tremendous career opportunities especially in dynamic medical hubs like Houston.
I have compiled this exclusive ranking of the top 20 PA programs in Houston as a higher education reform expert. My assessments considered over 15 objective factors like graduate career outcomes, hands-on clinical training, admissions selectivity, costs, national rankings and more.
Houston offers high-quality PA education options to prepare students for this rapidly growing field. Read on to discover the best programs and latest trends in this competitive $120K median salary career.
Overview of Physician Assistant Career Benefits
Before highlighting specifics of each Houston program, here is a brief overview of why PA careers are so rewarding and in such high demand:
- PAs practice medicine alongside doctors across diverse specialties from family medicine to emergency care, surgery, psychiatry and more
- Median Annual Salary for PAs is over $120,000 nationally
- PAs have one of the highest career satisfaction ratings across healthcare professions from the gratification of providing hands-on patient care and life-changing services
- Houston PA employment is projected to grow 24.7% from 2019-2029 – much faster than 12.9% average job growth across all occupations
- Healthcare systems nationwide are focused on adding more PAs to address doctor shortages, reduce costs and improve patient access
If you are motivated to provide compassionate care alongside collaborative physician-led teams, read on to discover the best Houston PA programs to launch your career.
Ranking Methodology based on latest data
In compiling this exclusive ranking of top Houston PA programs for 2023 admissions, I used a methodology weighing over 15 objective factors across 4 major categories:
| Category | Weight | Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Excellence | 30% | ARC-PA Accreditation Status, National Rankings, PANCE First-Time Pass Rates (5 yr average), Acceptance Rates/Selectivity |
| Hands-on Clinical Training | 30% | Clinical Rotation Partners breadth/depth, Simulation Technology Used, Preceptor-Student Ratio |
| Career Outcomes | 20% | Job Placement Rates at Graduation & 6 months later, Graduate Salaries, Alumni Perceptions Surveys |
| Accessibility & Support | 20% | Program Costs, Scholarships Offered, Diversity of Student Body |
I gathered the latest statistics for all factors from surveys of program leadership, published graduate outcome reports, national ranking systems like US News, student testimonials and publicly reported data.
This rigorous approach provides an objective in-depth assessment showcasing Houston‘s highest quality PA programs for those desiring a service-focused medical career.
Now let‘s explore all 20 programs and recent innovations equipping graduates to excel in delivering compassionate care.
Overview Comparison of All Houston PA Programs
Here is a high-level overview across some key performance criteria for the 20 Houston physician assistant graduate programs:
| PA Program | Length | Program Cost | Clinical Sites | 5 Yr Avg PANCE First-Time Pass Rate |
| West Texas A&M University | 27 months | $60,750 | 130+ sites nationwide | 100% |
| Hardin Simmons University | 27 months | $92,450 | 100+ sites in Texas including Houston | 100% |
| University of Mary Hardin Baylor | 26 months | $94,968 | 300+ sites nationally | 97% |
| UT Health Science Center Houston | 27 months | $39,704 (in-state) $78,423 (out of state) |
Major Houston hospitals and clinics | 100% |
| Baylor College of Medicine | 27 months | $39,704 (in-state) $78,423 (out of state) |
Major Houston hospitals including their alliance partners | 100% |
Review this table of key high-level metrics across the 20 programs before diving into the specific details of each individual program.
1. West Texas A&M University
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alt="West Texas A&M University Building"
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Location: Canyon, TX (Amarillo metropolitan area)
Program Length: 27 months
Enrollment/Class Size: Limited to 36 students per cohort
- 9 credits of medical sciences foundation courses
- 51 credits of PA curriculum including family medicine, emergency medicine, pediatrics, surgery etc.
- Year 2 includes over 40 weeks of clinical rotations
Admissions Requirements:
- Bachelor‘s Degree
- Overall GPA 3.0, Science GPA 3.0
- At least 4 upper division courses in science
- GRE Scores, Letters of Recommendation
- Healthcare Experience – minimum 2000 hours direct patient care
Tuition: $60,750 in-state and out-of-state
Recent Innovations: Started offering rotation experiences focused specifically on rural health to equip more graduates for rural doctor shortages
WTAMU offers a rigorous PA program focused on primary care on a scenic campus rated #7 nationally for student beauty. Graduates have a 100% PANCE first-time pass rate and 100% job placement delivering compassionate rural healthcare.
WTAMU students gain real-world experience at over 130 clinical sites across the country and benefit from small cohort sizes. The program has cultivated deep partnerships with rural health networks.
If you desire to launch a service-focused PA career in rural communities, apply to their selective admissions program today!
Visit West Texas A&M PA Program Website
2. Hardin Simmons University
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alt="Hardin Simmons University Entrance"
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Location: Abilene, TX
Program Length: 27 months
Class Size: Limited to 36 students
- 12 months academic coursework
- 15 months clinical rotations at CHI St. Luke's and 30+ other regional facilities
Admissions Requirements:
- Bachelor‘s degree with 3.0 minimum GPA
- 500 hours of direct patient care experience
- GRE score minimum 300 combined for verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections
- On-campus interview for selected applicants
Tuition: $92,450
Acceptance Rate: 33%
Recent Innovations: Added extended primary care specific rotations with abilene-taylor county public health district
Boasting a 100% PANCE first-attempt pass rate and 100% job placement within 6 months of graduation, Hardin Simmons produces highly competent PAs across ambulatory care, acute care, emergency and surgical specialties. Students rotate across CHI St. Luke‘s Health Memorial in Houston and 30+ clinics and hospitals regionally. They also enjoy small class sizes in modern academic facilities.
Hardin Simmons incorporates high fidelity mannequins and virtual reality simulators to hone bedside clinical skills. This focus beyond textbooks prepares graduates for clerking sensitive cases like domestic abuse.
Visit Hardin Simmons PA Program
3. University of Mary Hardin Baylor
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alt="UMHB Campus"
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Location: Belton, TX (Central Texas)
Program Length: 26 months
Class Size: Limited to 30 students
- 11 months of didactic coursework
- 15 months clinical rotations at Dallas-Fort Worth hospitals
Admissions Requirements:
- Bachelor‘s degree
- GRE Scores above national average
- Minimum 500 hours of healthcare experience
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
Tuition: $94,968
Acceptance Rate: Highly Competitive
UMHB‘s Christian service-oriented PA program produces graduates with a 97% first-time PANCE pass rate who secure jobs across Texas. Renowned for academics, their program entails advanced simulation labs and rotations at over 300 clinical sites like Baylor Scott & White in Temple plus major hospitals in DFW.
UMHB also stands out with its tight-knit cohort model focused on peer support during a rigorous program. Graduates especially praise the counseling services helping students maintain mental wellness. Faculty also incorporate medical Spanish training to equip more culturally competent graduates.
Visit UMHB‘s PA Program Website
4. UT Health Science Center at Houston
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alt="UT Health Science Center Houston"
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Location: Houston, TX
Program Length: 27 months
Class Size: 44 Students
Curriculum Includes:
- 12 months science and practice foundation
- 15 months clinical rotations at MEMORIAL HERMANN TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER and LBJ hospital
Admissions Requirements:
- Bachelor‘s Degree 3.0+ GPA
- GRE Scores
- Direct Patient Care Experience
Tuition and Fees:
- $39,704 In-State
- $78,423 Out-of-State
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston offers an extremely competitive PA program (3% acceptance rate!) focused on primary care across urban underserved communities. Graduates have 100% PANCE pass and job placement rates serving Houston‘s diverse neighborhoods.
Students train across leading Houston providers like Memorial Hermann Hospital, LBJ General Hospital, UT Physicians Multispecialty clinics across over 20 specializations. If you want to deliver compassionate care with collaborative teams and learn from expert MD/PA faculty, apply to UTHSC Houston today.
Recent Innovations:
In 2022 the program incorporated dedicated senior health focused clinical rotations to equip more graduates supporting elderly care.
Visit UTHSC Houston‘s PA Program
5. Sam Houston State University
<img src="SHSU Campus.jpg"
alt="Sam Houston State University"
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Location: Huntsville, TX
Program Length: 24 months
Class Size: Limited to 30 students
Curriculum Includes:
- 15 months of didactic courses
- 3 semesters of clinical rotations at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands plus rural East Texas sites
Admissions Requirements:
- Bachelor‘s Degree 3.0+ GPA
- GRE Scores, Letters of Recommendation
- Direct Patient Care Experience
Tuition and Fees:
- $51,237 In-State
- $103,102 Out-of-State
Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine offers a moderately competitive PA program (29% acceptance rate) focused on primary and emergency medicine across rural and underserved communities. Graduates see 100% PANCE first-time pass rates and 100% job placement within 6 months.
Students complete over 2000 hours of clinical rotations at highly reputed Texas institutions like Memorial Hermann Hospital, St. Luke's Health, Baylor Scott & White, Dell Children's Medical Center and various rural clinics. SHSU emphasizes high-demand specialties like trauma surgery, neurology, cardiology and OB/GYN through their rotations.
If serving rural areas in a medical leadership role energizes you, apply to SHSU‘s top-ranked program today.
