Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas

Similar Allied Health programs across Arkansas typically produce first-year earnings around $41,060, which would make Cossatot's program competitive with the state median and well above the national benchmark of $36,862. However, the reported four-year earnings of $33,567 tell a different story—that's a significant drop that contradicts the usual career trajectory in healthcare fields, where earnings typically rise with experience.

With an estimated debt load of $16,867 based on comparable Arkansas programs, graduates would face a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 if the first-year estimates hold true. That's better than the national median debt for this field. But the puzzling drop in year-four earnings raises questions about whether graduates are finding stable positions in their field or facing challenges that aren't visible in these numbers. Programs at NorthWest Arkansas Community College report substantially higher earnings, which may reflect different specializations within Allied Health or stronger regional job markets.

The safest interpretation: If your child can graduate with debt close to the state average and secure typical first-year positioning, this represents a reasonable investment for entering healthcare support roles. But probe deeply into what specific credentials this program provides and whether local employers value them, since the four-year earnings decline suggests something unusual about career progression for these particular graduates.