Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Alaska Career College

This under-the-radar program delivers something rare in medical assisting: genuinely strong first-year earnings that outpace 95% of similar programs nationwide. At $35,629, graduates earn about $8,400 more than the typical medical assistant certificate holder, a meaningful gap when you're starting a career. Within Alaska's small healthcare training landscape, it ranks solidly in the middle—comparable to Charter College but commanding a premium over the $27,000 national baseline.

The debt load of $9,311 is manageable, translating to just three months of earnings. However, the complete absence of wage growth over the first four years deserves attention. Medical assistants often hit a ceiling quickly, and these numbers suggest Alaska Career College graduates are no exception. You're looking at roughly the same paycheck in year four as day one, which limits long-term financial mobility. For context, the program serves a majority low-income student body (58% receive Pell grants), and for them, immediate decent-paying work may matter more than growth potential.

The verdict: If your child wants quick entry into healthcare without four-year commitment or crushing debt, this works. The earnings justify the investment immediately. Just recognize this is likely a stepping stone role, not a career with built-in advancement, so plan accordingly for future training or pivots.