Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Delgado Community College

Delgado's medical assisting program stands out in Louisiana—graduates earn nearly $8,000 more than the state median, placing this in the 80th percentile statewide. At roughly $30,000, first-year earnings also outpace the national median and land close to the 75th percentile nationally. For a certificate program at a community college serving predominantly Pell-eligible students, that's solid positioning.

The debt load tells a more complicated story. At $25,000, graduates are borrowing significantly more than the Louisiana median ($9,500) and the national benchmark. That's unusual for a community college certificate and pushes the debt-to-earnings ratio to 0.84—manageable but higher than you'd typically want. Earnings do inch upward to about $31,000 by year four, though that modest growth means debt will take longer to pay down than at programs where graduates borrow less upfront.

The small sample size here matters—we're looking at fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances can swing these numbers. Still, if your child is considering medical assisting in Louisiana and can minimize borrowing through financial aid or working while enrolled, Delgado appears to deliver stronger earning power than most in-state alternatives. Just be vigilant about keeping that debt number down, since the certificate itself doesn't command high enough wages to comfortably carry $25,000 in loans.