Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degree) at Atlanta Technical College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$40,110

Est. from GA median (8 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$16,757

Est. from GA median (3 programs)

Analysis

Similar allied health programs across Georgia suggest first-year earnings around $40,000 for graduates of Atlanta Technical College's medical assisting program—roughly on par with the state median but well below what students earn from schools like Dalton State ($58,734) or Athens Technical College ($46,123). The estimated debt load of $16,757 is notably lower than Georgia's typical $24,849 for these programs, which helps offset the moderate earnings and makes the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 manageable.

What's harder to reconcile is the reported four-year earnings figure of $29,273—substantially lower than the first-year estimate and raising questions about whether graduates are finding consistent full-time work in their field or leaving healthcare altogether. This drop is unusual and suggests potential instability in career outcomes that peer programs don't typically show.

For families where affordability is critical—especially given that 54% of students here receive Pell grants—the lower debt burden matters. But the uncertain earnings trajectory and the gap between this program and stronger performers in the state means you're banking on an estimate that may not materialize. If your child is committed to medical assisting, exploring programs with documented stronger outcomes would be worth the effort.

Where Atlanta Technical College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all allied health and medical assisting services associates's programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Atlanta Technical College	—	$29,273	—
Athens Technical College	$46,123	$58,028	+26%
Chattahoochee Technical College	$40,458	$45,635	+13%
South University-Savannah	$39,761	$43,365	+9%
Herzing University-Atlanta	$34,039	$33,930	-0%

Compare to Similar Programs in Georgia

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services associates's programs at peer institutions in Georgia (27 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Atlanta Technical CollegeAtlanta	$3,164	$40,110*	$29,273	$16,757*	—
Dalton State CollegeDalton	$3,283	$58,734*	—	$16,757*	0.29
Athens Technical CollegeAthens	$3,172	$46,123*	$58,028	—*	—
Albany State UniversityAlbany	$5,934	$46,061*	—	$24,626*	0.53
Chattahoochee Technical CollegeMarietta	$3,252	$40,458*	$45,635	—*	—
South University-SavannahSavannah	$18,238	$39,761*	$43,365	$30,694*	0.77
National Median	—	$36,862*	—	$19,825*	0.54

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with allied health and medical assisting services graduates

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Occupational Therapy Assistants

Assist occupational therapists in providing occupational therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, direct activity programs, and document the progress of treatments. Generally requires formal training.

$66,050/yrJobs growth:

Surgical Technologists

Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.

$62,480/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Physical Therapist Assistants

Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.

$60,050/yrJobs growth:

Medical Assistants

Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.

$44,200/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Pharmacy Technicians

Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.

$43,460/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

Perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May work under the supervision of a medical technologist.

Histology Technicians

Prepare histological slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. May assist with research studies.

Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other

All health technologists and technicians not listed separately.

Neurodiagnostic Technologists

Conduct electroneurodiagnostic (END) tests such as electroencephalograms, evoked potentials, polysomnograms, or electronystagmograms. May perform nerve conduction studies.

Ophthalmic Medical Technologists

Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions and ophthalmic photography. Provide instruction and supervision to other ophthalmic personnel. Assist with minor surgical procedures, applying aseptic techniques and preparing instruments. May perform eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct patients in care and use of corrective lenses.

Healthcare Support Workers, All Other

All healthcare support workers not listed separately.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Atlanta Technical College, approximately 54% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 8 similar programs in GA. Actual outcomes may vary.