Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Dawn Career Institute LLC

Dawn Career Institute's medical assisting program produces graduates who earn slightly above the national median right away—$28,708 versus $27,186 nationally—but then earnings actually decline to $26,803 by year four. This backward trajectory is concerning, though the $9,500 debt load is manageable at just one-third of first-year earnings. With robust data from 100+ graduates and 41% receiving Pell grants, these numbers reflect real outcomes for a largely working-class student body.

In Delaware's limited landscape (just two schools offering this program), this program sits at the median. The 60th percentile national ranking sounds decent, but remember that's among 1,356 programs—many of which face similar challenges with declining wages in medical assisting roles. The field itself may have structural limitations, as entry-level positions often hit their pay ceiling quickly.

For parents, this comes down to whether $9,500 in debt is worth training for a job that pays around $27,000 long-term. The relatively low debt burden makes this less risky than many certificate programs, and someone entering the workforce quickly might value that. But if your child has the ability to pursue an associate degree in nursing or another healthcare field with better wage growth, that's likely the stronger play despite taking longer to complete.