Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Carrington College-Phoenix North

Carrington College-Phoenix North charges significantly more than competitors for outcomes that place solidly in the middle of Arizona's pack. While first-year earnings of $53,596 rank in the 95th percentile nationally—crushing the national median of $36,862—this program lands at the 60th percentile among Arizona schools. That matters because students are comparing against local options, and several public colleges in the state deliver similar or slightly lower earnings at roughly half the debt load. At $32,458, this program costs about $3,000 more than Arizona's median for allied health programs, yet ties with Carrington's Mesa campus for earnings rather than pulling ahead.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61 is manageable compared to many for-profit programs, and graduates serving a heavily Pell-eligible population (55%) are reaching solid middle-class incomes quickly. Earnings do grow to $55,565 by year four, though that 4% increase suggests income stabilizes rather than accelerates. The real question is whether the premium over Arizona's community colleges—which charge far less—justifies essentially equivalent outcomes.

For families weighing this investment, the comparison is stark: you're paying private college prices for outcomes that public institutions in Arizona match. Unless campus location or program timing creates compelling advantages, community college alternatives deserve serious consideration. The earnings are real, but so is the opportunity to achieve them with dramatically less debt.