Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Carrington College-San Leandro Campus

Carrington College-San Leandro delivers surprisingly strong outcomes for a medical assisting program, earning graduates significantly more than typical programs both nationally (84th percentile) and within California (60th percentile). With first-year earnings of $32,311 versus the national median of $27,186, graduates earn about $5,000 more annually than their peers elsewhere. The debt load of $9,126 is also slightly below national and state averages, creating a favorable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28—meaning graduates can reasonably expect to pay off their debt in about four months of earnings.

However, there are important limitations to consider. Earnings growth is minimal over four years (just 2%), suggesting this field offers limited advancement potential without additional training. While Carrington outperforms most programs, it still trails the top California schools by $5,000-8,000 annually. The 59% Pell Grant rate indicates the program serves many lower-income students, which can be positive for accessibility but may also reflect the program's positioning in the market.

For families seeking quick entry into healthcare with manageable debt, this program offers solid value—especially compared to national alternatives. The strong sample size gives confidence in these outcomes, and the relatively low debt burden makes this a lower-risk investment than many certificate programs.