Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at CALC Institute of Technology

This certificate's most striking issue isn't the debt—at $8,360, it's actually manageable—but rather the stark earnings gap compared to other Illinois options. At $23,038 in first-year earnings, CALC's program trails the state median by $8,000 and lands in just the 25th percentile among Illinois allied health programs. Meanwhile, nearby Lewis and Clark Community College, also in the Metro East area, produces graduates earning $32,224—nearly 40% more.

The 8% earnings growth over four years offers little comfort when the starting point is this low. Even after four years, graduates here earn $24,864, which is substantially less than first-year graduates from the top community colleges in the state. With 81% of students receiving Pell grants, most families here are looking for economic mobility, and these numbers suggest this program struggles to deliver that compared to accessible alternatives. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means individual outcomes vary widely, but the pattern is concerning enough to warrant serious comparison shopping.

For families in the Alton area, it's worth the drive to explore programs at community colleges with stronger track records. The tuition savings at a community college combined with significantly higher earnings would likely offset any travel costs within the first year of employment.