Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Chattanooga State Community College

Chattanooga State manages to keep costs reasonable for its medical assisting certificate, with graduates carrying just $8,250 in debt—about $1,250 less than typical programs. That's the good news. The challenge is that first-year earnings of $25,150 place graduates slightly above Tennessee's state median but roughly $2,000 below the national average for this credential. While the program ranks in the 60th percentile within Tennessee, that's partly because medical assisting certificates in the state generally underperform compared to national standards.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33 means graduates face manageable payments relative to their income, and with over a third of students receiving Pell grants, this program serves students who need affordable pathways into healthcare work. However, parents should recognize that several other Tennessee schools produce graduates earning $1,000-$3,500 more in their first year, including South College at $28,606. That gap matters when you're starting at $25,000 annually.

This certificate offers low-risk entry into medical assisting—the debt won't be crushing. But it's worth comparing outcomes at other nearby programs to see if your student might earn a few thousand dollars more annually elsewhere, which compounds significantly over a career.