Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degree) at Community College of Rhode Island

Median Earnings (1yr)

$37,087

51st percentile

Median Debt

$18,986

4% below national median

Analysis

Community College of Rhode Island's allied health program sits squarely in the middle of the pack nationally, but trails its only in-state competitor by a meaningful margin. First-year graduates earn $37,087—just above the national median but about $1,700 less than Rhode Island's state average and roughly $3,500 behind New England Institute of Technology. For a parent weighing options within Rhode Island, that gap matters, though CCRI's lower debt load ($18,986 versus the state median of $19,576) partially offsets the earnings difference.

The financial picture is manageable but not particularly compelling. Graduates carry debt equal to about half their starting salary, which represents a reasonable burden, and earnings grow 19% over four years to nearly $44,000. However, even at that four-year mark, graduates still earn less than what the typical Rhode Island allied health grad makes right out of school. Given that 43% of CCRI students receive Pell grants, many families are choosing this program for affordability rather than earning potential.

If your child is committed to staying in Rhode Island and wants the lowest possible debt in allied health, CCRI delivers that. But if maximizing earnings is the priority, the modest premium for New England Institute of Technology might be worth exploring, especially since both programs lead to similar careers in the same state job market.

Where Community College of Rhode Island Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Community College of Rhode Island graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Community College of Rhode Island	$37,087	$43,988	+19%
Tacoma Community College	$58,382	$64,947	+11%
Concorde Career College-North Hollywood	$50,613	$64,792	+28%
Loma Linda University	$60,043	$61,960	+3%
New England Institute of Technology	$40,562	$44,059	+9%

Compare to Similar Programs in Rhode Island

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services associates's programs at peer institutions in Rhode Island (2 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Community College of Rhode IslandWarwick	$5,326	$37,087	$43,988	$18,986	0.51
New England Institute of TechnologyEast Greenwich	$35,625	$40,562	$44,059	$20,167	0.50
National Median	—	$36,862	—	$19,825	0.54

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 Community College of Rhode Island, approximately 43% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 53 graduates with reported earnings and 52 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.