Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Allegany College of Maryland

Allegany College's medical assisting program lands squarely in the middle of the pack—just below both national and Maryland medians for starting salary. At $34,372 in year one, graduates earn about $6,000 less than the state median, placing this program in the 40th percentile among Maryland's medical assisting offerings. That gap matters when schools like Carroll Community College place graduates earning $50,000 right out of the gate. The debt load of $18,357 is reasonable and typical for the field, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53.

The encouraging piece is the earnings trajectory: graduates see a 22% jump by year four, reaching $41,880. That's solid growth that brings earnings much closer to competitive levels. However, starting in the bottom half means playing catch-up for those first few years—a consideration if your student needs immediate income to manage living expenses or loan payments.

For a family looking at Maryland medical assisting programs, this represents adequate preparation at a fair price, but not a standout value. If your student can access one of the higher-performing Maryland programs without significantly more debt, that stronger starting salary could be worth exploring. If location or access makes Allegany the practical choice, the program will get them employed with manageable debt, though they'll need patience for earnings to grow into the field's better-paying positions.