Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center

Cape Girardeau's medical assisting certificate costs just $9,500—manageable debt for a career-launching program—but the earnings tell a more complicated story. At $25,824 in first-year earnings, graduates here earn about $2,600 less than the Missouri median and roughly $6,000 below what graduates at Three Rivers College make with similar credentials. While the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 means students could theoretically pay off loans in under five months of gross income, the absolute earnings figure places this program in the bottom half statewide (40th percentile).

The challenge here isn't the debt burden—it's competitive. Medical assistants in Missouri can earn more out of the gate, and with such a modest upfront investment, choosing the right program matters considerably. When multiple Missouri programs produce graduates earning $29,000-$36,000 annually, the $25,824 starting point represents real money left on the table, especially over a multi-year career. For families prioritizing immediate earning power in healthcare, this program's value proposition lags behind its in-state peers despite reasonable costs.