Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Carrington College-Portland

Carrington College-Portland's allied health program starts strong, with graduates earning $38,395 in their first year—placing it in the 95th percentile nationally and well above the typical $27,186 median for similar programs. The $9,500 debt load is manageable by any standard, representing just three months of that first-year salary. Among Oregon's 19 programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile, trailing community colleges like Portland CC ($46,000) but holding its own in a competitive state market.

The troubling pattern emerges over time: earnings drop to $33,794 by year four, a 12% decline that's unusual for healthcare fields. This could reflect graduates moving between roles, reducing hours, or hitting early earning ceilings in medical assisting positions. For a certificate program serving predominantly Pell grant recipients, the initial debt-to-earnings ratio remains reasonable, and that strong first-year placement suggests employers value the training.

The right student for this program is someone who needs fast workforce entry and can leverage that solid starting salary into a sustainable career path—perhaps by pursuing additional certifications or transitioning into higher-paying clinical roles. Just understand that unlike most healthcare credentials, this one doesn't show the typical upward earnings trajectory, so career planning beyond the certificate becomes crucial.