Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at De Anza College

Similar allied health programs in California suggest modest but reasonable financial outcomes for De Anza's associate degree. The estimated $14,000 debt load—well below both the state median ($19,000) and national median ($19,825)—reflects the community college's cost advantage. First-year earnings based on peer programs hover around $48,908, positioning graduates near California's median for this credential but trailing the state's top performers (some of which exceed $60,000).

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 indicates manageable repayment: roughly three months of gross income. That said, the spread between California's top and middle programs is substantial—about $12,000 annually—which matters significantly at these income levels. The gap likely reflects differences in specialization, clinical training opportunities, and employer networks rather than classroom quality alone.

For families, this setup works if your student plans to use the associate degree as a launching point—either moving quickly into the workforce with minimal debt or transferring to complete a bachelor's in a higher-earning health specialty. The low debt provides flexibility. But recognize these are estimates drawn from peer institutions, and actual outcomes depend heavily on which specific allied health track your student pursues and the clinical placements they secure during training.