Shenandoah University’s Physician Assistant Studies program maintained its status as one of the nation’s best, landing at No. 20 out of 211 ranked programs in the Best Health Schools category in U.S. News & World Report’s newest list of Best Graduate Schools for 2023-24.
Shenandoah’s PA program, which moved up one spot from the previous rankings released in 2019, is the highest ranked in Virginia, and is tied with Northeastern University, Sacred Heart University, Seton Hall University, the University of Kentucky, the University of Southern California and the University of Washington. It’s one of the youngest PA programs in the top 20, having first been accredited in 2001.
“Achieving this national ranking highlights how our faculty, staff and students continue to distinguish themselves on a national scale amongst our peers,” said SU’s Director of the Division of Physician Assistant Studies Anne Schempp, Ed.D., PA-C. “We are honored that our faculty are viewed as experts in PA education and we are very proud of our students as they continue to excel in service, learning and leadership during their time with us.”
SU’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies is an accredited, eight-semester, 30-month program that prepares students for primary care practice. The program is housed in the Health Professions Building on the campus of Winchester Medical Center in Winchester, Virginia, and Scholar Plaza, Loudoun, in Leesburg, Virginia.
U.S. News & World Report’s rankings were computed solely from the results of peer assessment surveys completed by deans, other administrators or faculty at accredited degree programs or schools. The survey was administered from fall 2022 through early 2023. Respondents rated academic quality of programs on a 1-5 scale; Shenandoah’s PA program scored a 3.5.
The most recent Best Graduate Schools rankings from U.S. News & World Report include 11 academic disciplines: business, computer science, education, engineering, health care management, nursing, physician assistant, public affairs, public health, rehabilitation counseling, and veterinary medicine.
A previous set of Best Graduate Schools national rankings released in 2020 listed Shenandoah’s nurse-midwifery program No. 30, the pharmacy program No. 79, the physical therapy program No. 83 and occupational therapy No. 108.
