Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at CEM College-Humacao

CEM College-Humacao graduates with medical assisting degrees earn about 60% less than the mainland national average—but that comparison misses the economic reality of Puerto Rico. At $11,714 in the first year and $14,593 by year four, these earnings sit near the middle of what PR medical assisting programs deliver, with the state median at $12,093. The real challenge is that top programs in Puerto Rico pay $18,000+, meaning CEM grads are leaving roughly $4,000 annually on the table compared to peers at Universidad Ana G. Mendez campuses.

The bright spot here is debt: at $3,500, it's significantly lower than Puerto Rico's typical $4,950 for this field and a fraction of the $19,825 national median. That low debt load means graduates reach a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30, making the credential affordable even on PR wages. For the 89% of students here receiving Pell grants, that matters enormously.

However, earning $14,593 four years post-graduation means limited financial mobility. If your child can access one of the higher-performing programs listed above, the earnings difference would pay off quickly. But if CEM is the accessible option and keeps debt minimal, this program offers a foothold in healthcare without the crushing debt many mainland graduates face—just with earnings that reflect Puerto Rico's wage reality rather than mainland expectations.