Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at CUNY LaGuardia Community College

LaGuardia's medical assisting program delivers something many associate degree programs struggle to achieve: meaningful earnings growth after graduation. Students move from $40,463 in their first year to $51,604 by year four—a 28% jump that outpaces both the New York state median ($32,890) and national average ($36,862) by substantial margins. At 60th percentile among New York programs, this isn't the highest-earning option in the state, but the trajectory matters more than the starting point for a field where many graduates begin in entry-level positions before advancing to better-paying specialized roles.

The debt load of $19,125 is reasonable, translating to about six months of first-year earnings—a manageable ratio that improves significantly as earnings grow. This program serves a heavily Pell-eligible population (40%), suggesting it's creating genuine upward mobility for students who need it most. The moderate sample size means these numbers reflect real outcomes rather than statistical noise.

For parents weighing community college options in New York, this represents solid value. Your child won't match the earnings of Orange County or Kingsborough graduates immediately, but they'll enter a field with clear advancement potential at a price point that won't saddle them with crushing debt. The combination of below-average borrowing and above-average earnings growth makes this a lower-risk pathway into healthcare support careers.