Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Columbiana County Career and Technical Center

With only $5,850 in debt—less than half the state median—this program stands out for affordability in Ohio's allied health market. Columbiana County's certificate ranks in the 60th percentile among Ohio programs, which translates to roughly $26,700 in starting earnings. That's modest compared to top performers like Sinclair Community College ($43,380), but the debt load is exceptionally light. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22 means graduates carry less than three months' salary in debt, making this one of the lowest-burden credentials in the field.

The earnings decline from year one to year four is worth understanding in context. Medical assisting roles often have compressed salary ranges, so this may reflect career path choices rather than program quality. The real question is whether $24,000-27,000 in annual earnings, even with minimal debt, provides sufficient financial stability. For students from the primarily low-income population this school serves (68% Pell recipients), this represents accessible entry to healthcare work without the debt trap many certificate programs create.

The small sample size means these numbers could shift significantly with more data, but the pattern is clear: this is a low-cost, low-debt pathway into allied health work. Parents should weigh whether the earning potential—competitive within Ohio but still modest overall—aligns with their child's income needs and career ambitions.