Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Carrington College-Mesa

Carrington College-Mesa's Allied Health program commands premium tuition—debt loads run about $13,000 higher than the national median—but delivers earnings that place it in the 95th percentile nationally. First-year graduates earn $53,596, nearly $17,000 above what typical programs produce. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61, meaning graduates owe about seven months' salary, which is manageable compared to many healthcare programs.

The Arizona context reveals important nuance. While these earnings crush national benchmarks, they land at the 60th percentile within Arizona, where the median Allied Health graduate already earns $47,390. Carrington-Mesa ties for the state's top spot with its Phoenix North campus, but several community colleges deliver solid outcomes at presumably lower cost. GateWay Community College graduates, for instance, earn $50,605—only $3,000 less—likely with significantly less debt than Carrington's $32,458.

For parents weighing this program, the calculation depends on alternatives. If your child has community college options, those merit serious consideration given Arizona's strong median outcomes. But if comparing private programs or out-of-state alternatives, Carrington-Mesa's earnings justify its cost better than most Allied Health programs nationwide. The 54% Pell grant rate suggests this school successfully serves moderate-income families, and graduates enter a field with decent year-over-year growth. Just ensure you're comparing total costs—not just debt—against cheaper state options.