Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at ATA Career Education

ATA Career Education's graduates earn about $3,000 more than the Florida median for medical assisting programs—a modest edge that places them in the 60th percentile statewide. That matters for a program serving 92% Pell-eligible students, though it's worth noting that several Florida technical colleges push graduates past $33,000 within their first year. The earnings stability here is striking: graduates make essentially the same amount ($29,280 to $29,977) from year one through year four, suggesting this program hits its ceiling quickly.

The debt load tells a more encouraging story. At $16,640, graduates here carry about $7,000 more than the typical Florida medical assisting graduate, but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57 remains manageable—most graduates should clear this in under three years with aggressive payments. The real question is whether that debt premium buys meaningful career acceleration, and the flat earnings trajectory suggests it doesn't.

For families weighing this program: if your student needs flexible, accessible training and can manage $16,640 in loans, this delivers above-average starting pay for Florida. But if minimizing debt is the priority, public technical colleges offer comparable outcomes at roughly half the cost. The program works, but shop around first.