Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Centralia College

Medical assisting programs in Washington command significantly higher salaries than the national norm—similar programs statewide suggest first-year earnings around $37,000, nearly $10,000 above what graduates typically earn elsewhere. For Centralia College's certificate, this positions the program right at Washington's median, though notably below the state's top performers like North Seattle College, where graduates clear $48,000.

The estimated debt of $14,875 exceeds both Washington's typical figure ($9,626) and the national median ($9,500) for this credential, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40. That means roughly five months of gross income would go toward the debt burden—manageable compared to some healthcare programs, but higher than what students at peer Washington schools are typically taking on. Given that comparable programs produce similar earnings outcomes with less debt, understanding why this program's borrowing runs higher matters.

The key question is whether Washington's stronger medical assisting job market—which appears to value these credentials more than most states—offsets the above-average debt load. At about 40% of first-year earnings, the debt burden remains workable, especially in a field with clear employment pathways. But families should investigate whether Centralia's financial aid office can help reduce that borrowing closer to the state median, particularly since the earnings upside here appears limited compared to other community colleges in Washington.