Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Central Maine Community College

Based on comparable allied health programs in Maine, this two-year degree appears to launch graduates into the mid-$30,000s—right in line with the state median but notably below what students at nearby Southern Maine Community College are earning. The estimated debt of around $17,600 translates to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.5, suggesting monthly payments that shouldn't overwhelm a starting salary in this range.

What complicates the picture is the earnings trajectory. While peer programs suggest first-year earnings around $36,900, Central Maine's actual reported figure four years out drops to $33,289. That backwards slide is unusual for healthcare fields and raises questions about whether graduates are finding full-time positions in their field or whether the local Auburn job market limits advancement opportunities compared to other parts of the state.

The program likely makes financial sense if your child plans to work in central Maine and values staying close to home, given the relatively modest debt load. But if maximizing earnings is the priority, Southern Maine's program shows what's possible within the same state system—about $7,500 more annually. The key is understanding whether that earnings dip at year four represents a temporary market condition or a persistent pattern for this specific program's graduates.