Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Career Care Institute

Career Care Institute's medical assisting program charges about 20% less than typical California programs but produces earnings that fall below both state and national averages. At $26,403 in first-year earnings versus $26,897 statewide, this ranks in the 40th percentile among California's 185 similar programs. The good news? The debt load of $7,600 is genuinely modest, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29—meaning graduates owe less than three months of income.

The challenge is what happens next. While earnings do grow to $27,905 by year four, that's still about $5,000 below California's median for this credential and roughly $13,000 behind top-performing programs like Empire College. For context, many California community colleges produce stronger outcomes in this field while charging significantly less.

The program serves a high proportion of Pell-eligible students (62%), which matters for access, but that doesn't change the fundamental math: graduates are starting well below what peers at other institutions earn, and the gap isn't closing over time. The low debt is the silver lining here—it keeps this from being a high-risk choice—but families should know there are dozens of California programs delivering better returns for similar or lower costs. If Career Care Institute is the most convenient option, the manageable debt makes it workable, but it shouldn't be the first choice if alternatives exist.