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)
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15,599 | $36,350* | — | $24,121* | — | |
| — | $49,878* | $52,302 | $27,000* | 0.54 | |
| $7,830 | $41,050* | $43,080 | $12,000* | 0.29 | |
| $3,630 | $39,842* | $51,274 | $26,214* | 0.66 | |
| $4,184 | $38,770* | $40,702 | $14,747* | 0.38 | |
| $4,500 | $37,137* | $42,691 | $16,600* | 0.45 | |
| 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
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Surgical Technologists
Physical Therapist Assistants
Medical Assistants
Pharmacy Technicians
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
Histology Technicians
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other
Neurodiagnostic Technologists
Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other
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.