Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Bergen Community College

In New Jersey's competitive allied health market, Bergen Community College's program appears to land in the middle of the pack based on comparable programs statewide. Similar associate's degree programs in New Jersey typically lead to first-year earnings around $37,762, which tracks closely with the national median for this credential. By year four, graduates from this program reach $41,299—solid growth, but well below what top performers like Essex County College ($54,592) and Rutgers-New Brunswick ($50,530) achieve. That gap suggests meaningful differences in either program focus, clinical partnerships, or job placement outcomes that are worth investigating.

The estimated debt picture—around $25,125 based on peer community college programs—sits above both state and national medians, though the 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable. For a field where many practitioners work part-time or in entry-level positions initially, carrying this level of debt means graduates will need to prioritize full-time employment and may have limited flexibility in their first few years. The fact that other allied health programs in New Jersey report lower typical debt ($18,295 median) raises questions about whether Bergen's program structure or student borrowing patterns differ from its peers.

Given the wide range of outcomes across New Jersey programs—from $35,883 to over $54,000—your best move is speaking directly with Bergen's career services about where their specific graduates actually land jobs and what roles they secure. The estimates suggest a viable but unremarkable investment; the actual outcomes for this cohort could look quite different.