The physician assistant program at the Rutgers School of Health Professions is ranked No. 3 in the nation for 2025-26, according to U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools—the first time it has reached the top five in its 50-year history.
Recognized alongside renowned universities such as Duke and Stanford, the Rutgers physician assistant program keeps expanding, climbing past its No. 7 ranking in 2023. The upward trajectory represents the highest ranking in the program’s history. “Being ranked nationally in the top five and recognized as the best program in New Jersey helps in recruiting the best students from across the state and country,” said Lori Palfreyman, an associate professor at the School of Health Professions and director of the physician assistant program.
According to U.S. News & World Report, the graduate schools’ rankings are based on peer assessment surveys completed by deans, other administrators or faculty at accredited degree programs or schools. U.S. News asked academic experts from more than 300 physician assistant programs accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission to judge the academic quality of a school’s faculty, research and students on a scale of 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding). Results from the survey conducted in early 2025 were released on April 8. To read the full story.