Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Austin Community College District

Austin Community College delivers something rare in allied health: strong earnings that keep climbing. Graduates earn $49,448 in their first year—putting this program in the 94th percentile nationally—then see that grow to $59,099 by year four. That's a 20% increase while many programs plateau early. The $18,457 in median debt translates to just 37 cents owed for every dollar earned in that first year, well below concerning levels.

The Texas picture adds useful context. At the 60th percentile statewide, this program performs solidly but doesn't crack the top tier of Texas allied health programs. A handful of schools, including Western Technical College and San Jacinto Community College, push starting salaries above $52,000. Still, ACC graduates earn $5,000 more than the typical Texas student in this field and nearly $13,000 above the national median.

For an associate degree program accessible through a community college, these numbers work. Your child would carry manageable debt, start earning immediately, and see meaningful salary growth through their twenties. If they're set on Austin or prefer the community college environment, this is a sound choice. If they're willing to commute or relocate within Texas for potentially higher starting salaries, compare carefully against those top-performing programs.