Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at CEM College-San Juan

The $11,714 starting salary from CEM College-San Juan is strikingly low—ranking in just the 5th percentile nationally—but it's essentially typical for Puerto Rico's healthcare assistant market. At 40th percentile statewide, this program delivers middle-of-the-pack results for the island, where median earnings for this degree hover around $12,000. The concerning reality is that even the top programs in Puerto Rico (earning $17,000-18,000) fall dramatically short of the $36,862 national median, reflecting broader economic challenges in the territory rather than this specific program's quality.

The positive here is minimal debt load: $3,500 is less than a year's earnings and far below both national and PR medians. Your child won't face crushing repayment burdens. However, the 25% earnings growth to $14,593 by year four still leaves graduates earning less than half the national average for this field. With 90% of students receiving Pell grants, CEM serves economically vulnerable students entering a career path that perpetuates low earnings.

If staying in Puerto Rico is the plan and healthcare work is the goal, this program won't create debt problems—but it won't create financial mobility either. Families should explore whether nursing programs (which typically offer better earnings) or relocating to the mainland after graduation might provide better long-term prospects.