Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at American Career College-Anaheim

American Career College-Anaheim charges $8,000 more in debt than typical California medical assisting programs, yet graduates earn exactly the state median of $48,908. That premium isn't buying higher earnings—it's buying average outcomes at above-average cost. The first-year earnings still outpace the national median by $12,000, but within California, this program sits squarely in the middle of the pack while its debt load falls in the top third.

The earnings trajectory tells the more troubling story. Graduates see their pay drop from $48,908 to $41,837 over four years—a 14% decline that's unusual for healthcare programs. This could reflect the limitations of medical assisting roles, where there's a ceiling on advancement without additional credentials. Meanwhile, graduates from other Southern California programs like Concorde Career College-Garden Grove are earning $59,000+ with similar associate degrees.

For families whose students qualify for the 60% of students here receiving Pell grants, the $27,000 debt load represents seven months of that first-year salary. That's manageable initially, but less comfortable as earnings slide toward $42,000. If your child is California-bound for medical assisting, this program delivers solid initial placement but at a price that doesn't match the value—especially when other regional programs demonstrate that substantially higher earnings are achievable at similar or lower cost.