Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Davenport University

Davenport's Allied Health program sits near the middle of Michigan offerings but trails the national market by a significant margin—graduates earn about $6,000 less annually than the typical program nationwide. At the 40th percentile in Michigan, this puts students roughly $7,000 behind what they'd earn at Grand Rapids Community College, which is located in the same city and costs similarly.

The modest debt of $17,043 keeps the program from becoming a financial burden, with graduates earning enough to manage payments reasonably well. Earnings do inch upward to $32,321 by year four, though this 5% growth barely keeps pace with inflation. The reality is that students who choose community college alternatives like Muskegon ($58,377) or Washtenaw ($39,704) start their careers with dramatically higher earning potential for comparable investment.

For parents weighing this option, the question isn't whether graduates can afford their loans—they can. It's whether spending two years at Davenport makes sense when nearby GRCC delivers stronger outcomes at community college prices, or when other Michigan programs demonstrate that allied health careers can pay substantially more. The debt is manageable, but the opportunity cost of missing higher-earning programs is real.