Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Angeles College

Angeles College manages to flip the usual certificate program script: graduates carry unusually low debt ($6,404) while earning solidly above both California and national medians. For a field where many programs saddle students with $9,500+ in loans, this 0.21 debt-to-earnings ratio represents genuine accessibility—particularly meaningful given that half the student body receives Pell grants.

The $30,301 starting salary ranks in the 60th percentile among California's 185 medical assisting programs, putting it ahead of typical competitors but well behind top performers like Empire College ($40,838). That gap matters: graduates here earn $10,000 less annually than those from leading programs. The modest 10% earnings growth to $33,170 by year four suggests limited advancement within the medical assisting track itself, which is typical for entry-level healthcare support roles.

The real calculation here is straightforward: your child graduates with minimal debt burden and immediate employability in a stable healthcare field. They won't match earnings from the highest-ranked programs, but they also won't spend years digging out from under certificate-level debt. For families prioritizing quick workforce entry with manageable financial risk, this program delivers exactly what it promises—nothing flashy, but honest value for the investment.