Est. Earnings (1yr)
$36,350
Est. from MO median (11 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$24,121
Est. from national median (65 programs)

Analysis

Similar allied health programs across Missouri suggest first-year earnings around $36,350—right in line with the state median but trailing stronger performers like Concorde Career College-Kansas City by over $13,000. With estimated debt near $24,000, Cox College graduates would face payments roughly 66% of their first-year income, a workable but not exceptional ratio for an associate degree in healthcare support.

The debt estimate here comes from national peers at similar private institutions and runs about $6,000 higher than Missouri's typical debt load for this field. That gap matters when you're earning medical assistant wages rather than registered nurse salaries. Community colleges like Ozarks Technical and Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City show comparable earnings potential with substantially lower debt burdens, which could mean faster financial stability for graduates.

For parents evaluating Cox College specifically, the uncertainty in these figures is significant—the school's actual graduate outcomes may differ meaningfully from these state and national benchmarks. If Cox provides strong clinical connections or placement support in Springfield's healthcare market, that could justify the premium. But without confirmed data showing Cox graduates outperform the state median, you're looking at paying private-college prices for outcomes that comparable programs deliver at lower cost.

Where Cox College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Missouri

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services associates's programs at peer institutions in Missouri (26 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Cox CollegeSpringfield$15,599$36,350*$24,121*
Concorde Career College-Kansas CityKansas City$49,878*$52,302$27,000*0.54
State Technical College of MissouriLinn$7,830$41,050*$43,080$12,000*0.29
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas CityKansas City$3,630$39,842*$51,274$26,214*0.66
Ozarks Technical Community CollegeSpringfield$4,184$38,770*$40,702$14,747*0.38
Jefferson CollegeHillsboro$4,500$37,137*$42,691$16,600*0.45
National Median$36,862*$19,825*0.54
* Estimated from similar programs

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 Cox College, approximately 35% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 11 similar programs in MO. Actual outcomes may vary.