Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Clover Park Technical College

At $43,425 in first-year earnings, Clover Park Technical College's allied health program delivers exactly the state median—but that median is already 18% above the national average for this field. More importantly, the program comes with just $14,405 in debt, roughly $5,000 less than typical Washington programs and $5,400 below the national median. This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33, meaning graduates can realistically pay off their loans within a year or two of focused repayment.

The challenge here is stagnant career growth. Earnings actually dip slightly by year four, dropping to $42,328. This pattern suggests these roles may hit their earning ceiling quickly, which isn't unusual in medical assisting but matters for long-term planning. Compare this to Tacoma Community College's allied health grads, who earn $58,382—though it's worth investigating whether they're entering different specializations or credential levels.

The low debt load makes this manageable even with flat earnings. Your child would enter the workforce with minimal financial burden and solid initial wages. If career advancement matters, they'll likely need to pursue additional certifications or pivot into specialized roles, but the foundation here—quick entry into healthcare work without crushing debt—is fundamentally sound for students seeking stable employment over salary growth.