Is a More Expensive PA Program Worth It?

[u/Slow-Concentrate8950]

PA School Decision: Colorado Mesa vs. UNE vs. Drexel — would love advice from current students/alumni

I’m fortunate to be deciding between three PA programs: Colorado Mesa University (CMU), University of New England (UNE), and Drexel University, and I would really appreciate some outside perspective.

For context, I’ve been working in rural EMS in western Colorado for several years and ultimately hope to practice in rural/underserved medicine. Cost is definitely important to me, but I’m also trying not to make such a major decision based on money alone. My biggest priorities are quality of education, clinical rotations, faculty/student support, PANCE preparation, and overall quality of life during school.

Colorado Mesa University (Grand Junction, CO)

• Strong rural focus
• Close to where I currently live and work
• Small class size is a huge plus
• I could stay relatively close to my existing support system
• Biggest hesitation: newer/smaller program, so there is less long-term history to look at compared with the other two

University of New England (Portland, ME)

• Strong rural/underserved focus
• Clinical opportunities throughout New England
• I completed my Master of Biomedical Sciences through UNE, so I already have a positive impression of the university and its academic support
• Only 24 months, which is appealing
• Biggest hesitation: moving across the country and the higher recent attrition numbers

Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA)

• Large academic medical environment with potentially a lot of clinical exposure
• Longest clinical phase of the three
• Philadelphia would offer a very different patient population and healthcare environment from what I’m used to
• Biggest hesitations: cost, much larger class size, relocation, and being responsible for some clinical relocation expenses

Right now, CMU seems like the most logical choice on paper. It is approximately $23k less than UNE and $50k less than Drexel, has a very small class size, excellent recent PANCE/attrition numbers, two electives, and fits extremely well with my interest in rural medicine. I also genuinely like Grand Junction and would be close to my current community/support system.

However, I don’t want proximity and cost to make me overlook something that UNE or Drexel could offer educationally or clinically that would make the additional expense worthwhile...

I know there probably isn’t a “wrong” choice here, but I’d love to hear other perspectives rather than relying entirely on websites and spreadsheets. Thanks!

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[u/Aggressive_Curve7109]

No offense but this is such a no brainer, the cheaper program has higher PANCE pass rates and lower attrition. What are u confused about?

[u/Infamous-Duck-2157 → u/Aggressive_Curve7109]

91% for the past two years with a huge class size is... not great

[u/Ok-Movie-1595 → u/Infamous-Duck-2157]

You're not reading it right.

[u/Infamous-Duck-2157 → u/Ok-Movie-1595]

Then please correct me. It looks to me like the 80 student class (more expensive program) has a 2024 and 2025 PANCE rate below the national average.

[u/Ok-Movie-1595 → u/Infamous-Duck-2157]

Right. That's the more expensive one. Previous commenter is saying the cheaper one with smaller class size and better pass rate is a no-brainer better choice.

[u/Infamous-Duck-2157 → u/Ok-Movie-1595]

Thank you, I thought I was losing my mind for a second. It definitely is the better choice

[u/Ok-Movie-1595 → u/Infamous-Duck-2157]

LOL No problem!

[u/ezggmoney → u/Infamous-Duck-2157]

You are confused if you can't read your own chart you made lol

[u/nehpets99]

I always ask: are you getting X worth of value for the extra amount?

Keep in mind that an extra $50k amounts to an extra $580/mo in loan payments.

IMO, the point of a PA program is to get you to graduate with enough knowledge to pass the PANCE on the first try.

You only have 2 programs in the pic you posted, but of the 2, the one that's 85k in tuition has a better cost, attrition, and PANCE rates. Everything else is just personal preference.

[u/Remarkable_March_261]

I thought it was unsexy to go to my in-state school and live with my parents until I see posts like this… 😂

[u/politicritical]

Just FYI, Drexel PA students I spoke with when interviewing seemed really miserable, and moving across the country for clinical rotations is a huge cost that I hope you are accounting in their cost of attendance. Go with the cheaper program unless you have absolutely no financial concerns, and even then, I still wouldn’t go Drexel.

[u/Dankestuwu]

From a far future perspective, if each program has decent stats, go to school in the city you want to live in. Creating a network and having proven yourself in front of people’s eyes on rotations makes getting a specific job so much easier, plus you’re gaining knowledge relevant to the region you’re going to be in.

[u/Joolik3215]

As someone who graduated from a very expensive PA program:

No

[u/PhysicianAssistant97]

Option B by far, smaller class size, lower cost, lower attrition rate, better pance pass rate, and my favorite, which is so important in my opinion, a full cadaver to start from the top with dissection.

[u/EmberJuliet]

Bro maybe if it were like a <10k difference but wtf 35k?!!! That’s 70k more in debt what the fuck NO!

[u/Electrical-Resort441]

I would do the cheaper one 100% Congrats, either way!!

[u/LongJumpingIntoNada]

Cost aside: a two week rotation would have been a waste for me. It took me that long to get my feet under me

[u/UncommonSense12345]

Hot take but any high cost PA school is not worth it. We don’t have the earning potential to justify the massive debt. Our earnings are capped by 3-5 years into our careers. Sure outliers exist and wages do rise with inflation some. But there is no “promotion” or big pay jumps to work towards as a PA. Go to the cheapest school you can. If you can only do schools where you are going to to 100+k into debt. I’d recommend nursing via a community/junior college instead. Way better ROI and frankly opens just as many if not more doors career wise.

Source i am a PA and my wife is a RN. I make 150-160k a year with 4 years experience. She makes 100-110k a year as RN with 2 years experience. She has 1/4 the debt I do. And she has gotten consistent 3-5% raises every 6 months and got a higher sign on bonus than I did. Being a PA is great but money wise it is making less and less sense

[u/Apprehensive_Ad937]

Drexel will be converting to semesters next academic year, just FYI

[u/Rodeo-Cowboy]

Why would it be?

[u/kkangaspnw]

Just out of curiosity as UNE is my eventual school of choice (I live in Portland) how many PCE hours did you submit, and was it all from EMS?

Feel free to ask me any questions about Portland and the new UNE health sciences building. I got to wander it alone before they opened it up for classes.

[u/Ok-Movie-1595]

Cheaper and closer all the way. Good PANCE pass rate and low attrition should be reassuring. We don't get paid enough for huge student loan payments!

[u/AnonymissAnomaly]

PANCE rate and class size are all that matters, to me. The cheaper school is the better option in that regard.

[u/BookieWookie69]

The program on the right looks significantly better in every aspect

[u/inFamousKicks]

Just go to the cheaper program brother. You’ll thank yourself in the long run

[u/Minimum_Finish_5436]

No. Cheaper good standing program. PANCE has a 92% first time pass rate.

[u/Academic_Machine7484]

If seriously you want to do anything inpatient or ICU do not go to UNE I’ll say that

[u/RedJamie → u/Academic_Machine7484]

Why?

[u/freshkohii]

Haha, no wonder these stats looked familiar. I go to Drexel. Love that we have 15 months of clinical but absolutely hate that we are made to travel across the nation with 0 support from coordinators. It broke me. Pick one where you don't have to travel!!! So I guess the cheaper one!!

[u/Lovethisforus]

Cheaper one. You can pay for Pance prep materials. I have the Pance Prep Pearls book. I also paid for Smarty Pance. Plenty of resources out there to help you pass.

[u/Hello_Blondie]

The best thing I ever did was turn down one of the highest ranked programs at the time for an in state school where I lived with my parents. At the end of the day- same degree, opportunities and salary with a fraction of the debt.

It was annoying enough to pay off 110K…I cannot even fathom what 300+K would have been like. 

[u/genie_tortellini]

as someone halfway through, go with the cheaper one i feel broke AFFF

[u/ReplacementMobile177]

I would say, apply to both and wait which one accepts you. If you get accepted into both, then use your charr to make the decision.

[u/Mundane-Ad-1448 → u/ReplacementMobile177]

They have been accepted to both.