Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Del Mar College

Del Mar College's Allied Health program stands out for one thing: extraordinarily low debt. At just $7,000, graduates carry roughly a third of what peers pay at other Texas schools ($21,000 median). That gives this program a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.17—meaning graduates owe less than two months of their first-year salary. That's a significant financial cushion.

The earnings picture is more nuanced. First-year graduates earn $42,057, which beats the national median but falls short of Texas's median ($44,175). Within Texas, this program ranks in the 40th percentile—meaning six out of ten similar programs in the state deliver higher starting pay. The top programs at Western Technical and San Jacinto push past $52,000, showing there's a roughly $10,000 earnings gap compared to leading alternatives. However, earnings do grow solidly to $48,394 by year four, a 15% increase that suggests decent career progression.

For families prioritizing affordability and manageable debt, Del Mar delivers. The minimal borrowing means financial stress is unlikely, and graduates enter a healthcare field with clear upward mobility. If your child can access one of Texas's higher-earning programs without taking on significantly more debt, that's worth exploring—but Del Mar's combination of low cost and reasonable earnings makes it a defensible choice, particularly for students who need to stay local or minimize financial risk.