Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degree) at Cerro Coso Community College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$48,908

Est. from CA median (29 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$14,000

Est. from CA median (3 programs)

Analysis

Medical assisting programs in California cluster around $48,900 in first-year earnings, and Cerro Coso's estimated outcomes align with this state median—though it's worth noting these figures come from peer programs rather than actual tracking of this campus's graduates. The estimated $14,000 debt load is notably lighter than California's typical $19,000 for similar programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 that suggests manageable repayment. For context, the top-earning medical assisting programs in the state produce graduates making $60,000+, showing there's room for variance in outcomes.

The real advantage here appears to be cost control rather than earnings premium. At community college pricing, even estimated debt below the state median positions graduates to manage loan payments on a medical assistant's salary. Similar programs nationally produce median earnings around $37,000—substantially lower than California's stronger wage environment—which helps explain why pursuing this credential in-state makes mathematical sense despite the higher cost of living.

The limitation for parents is uncertainty: without actual graduate outcomes from Cerro Coso specifically, you're betting that this program performs comparably to the state average. If your student plans to stay in California's healthcare market and values affordability over chasing the highest-earning programs, the estimated debt burden won't hamstring them. But recognize you're making this decision with borrowed data—the school's actual track record remains unknown.

Where Cerro Coso Community College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all allied health and medical assisting services associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services associates's programs at peer institutions in California (100 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Cerro Coso Community CollegeRidgecrest	$1,384	$48,908*	—	$14,000*	—
Carrington College-SacramentoSacramento	—	$61,881*	$44,082	$29,755*	0.48
Carrington College-Pleasant Hill CampusPleasant Hill	—	$61,881*	$44,082	$29,755*	0.48
Loma Linda UniversityLoma Linda	—	$60,043*	$61,960	$16,500*	0.27
Concorde Career College-Garden GroveGarden Grove	—	$59,559*	$61,059	$29,750*	0.50
Institute of TechnologyClovis	—	$59,548*	—	$26,064*	0.44
National Median	—	$36,862*	—	$19,825*	0.54

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with allied health and medical assisting services graduates

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Occupational Therapy Assistants

Assist occupational therapists in providing occupational therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, direct activity programs, and document the progress of treatments. Generally requires formal training.

$66,050/yrJobs growth:

Surgical Technologists

Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.

$62,480/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Physical Therapist Assistants

Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.

$60,050/yrJobs growth:

Medical Assistants

Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.

$44,200/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Pharmacy Technicians

Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.

$43,460/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

Perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May work under the supervision of a medical technologist.

Histology Technicians

Prepare histological slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. May assist with research studies.

Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other

All health technologists and technicians not listed separately.

Neurodiagnostic Technologists

Conduct electroneurodiagnostic (END) tests such as electroencephalograms, evoked potentials, polysomnograms, or electronystagmograms. May perform nerve conduction studies.

Ophthalmic Medical Technologists

Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions and ophthalmic photography. Provide instruction and supervision to other ophthalmic personnel. Assist with minor surgical procedures, applying aseptic techniques and preparing instruments. May perform eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct patients in care and use of corrective lenses.

Healthcare Support Workers, All Other

All healthcare support workers not listed separately.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Cerro Coso Community College, approximately 14% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 29 similar programs in CA. Actual outcomes may vary.