Location: Pleasant Hill, CA•In-State Tuition: $1,312•Out-of-State Tuition: $9,012
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$48,908
Est. from CA median (29 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$14,000
Est. from CA median (3 programs)

Analysis

Similar allied health programs across California suggest first-year earnings around $49,000—roughly $12,000 above the national median for these credentials and well ahead of the typical $37,000 seen elsewhere. That's not surprising given California's higher cost of living and wages, but it matters because it fundamentally changes the affordability equation. The estimated $14,000 in debt yields a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29, meaning graduates would need about 3.5 months of gross income to cover their educational investment.

The challenge here is visibility. With suppressed data due to small graduate cohorts, this estimate is drawn from 29 peer programs statewide and just three community colleges like Diablo Valley for the debt figure. Meanwhile, nearby Carrington College's Pleasant Hill campus—literally in the same city—reports actual earnings of nearly $62,000 for its graduates, about $13,000 higher than the state median. Whether Diablo Valley's outcomes match that level or fall closer to the broader state average remains uncertain.

For anxious parents, the math looks manageable if the estimates hold. But with actual top-performing programs in the area showing significantly stronger earnings, it's worth investigating what distinguishes them—whether it's curriculum, clinical partnerships, or job placement support—and whether Diablo Valley offers similar advantages despite its limited graduate sample size.

Where Diablo Valley College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all allied health and medical assisting services associates's programs nationally

Diablo Valley College (estimated ±10%)Other allied health and medical assisting services programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services associates's programs at peer institutions in California (100 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Diablo Valley CollegePleasant Hill$1,312$48,908*—$14,000*—
Carrington College-SacramentoSacramento—$61,881*$44,082$29,755*0.48
Carrington College-Pleasant Hill CampusPleasant Hill—$61,881*$44,082$29,755*0.48
Loma Linda UniversityLoma Linda—$60,043*$61,960$16,500*0.27
Concorde Career College-Garden GroveGarden Grove—$59,559*$61,059$29,750*0.50
Institute of TechnologyClovis—$59,548*—$26,064*0.44
National Median—$36,862*—$19,825*0.54
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with allied health and medical assisting services graduates

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Occupational Therapy Assistants

Assist occupational therapists in providing occupational therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, direct activity programs, and document the progress of treatments. Generally requires formal training.

$66,050/yrJobs growth:

Surgical Technologists

Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.

$62,480/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Physical Therapist Assistants

Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.

$60,050/yrJobs growth:

Medical Assistants

Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.

$44,200/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Pharmacy Technicians

Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.

$43,460/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

Perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May work under the supervision of a medical technologist.

Histology Technicians

Prepare histological slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. May assist with research studies.

Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other

All health technologists and technicians not listed separately.

Neurodiagnostic Technologists

Conduct electroneurodiagnostic (END) tests such as electroencephalograms, evoked potentials, polysomnograms, or electronystagmograms. May perform nerve conduction studies.

Ophthalmic Medical Technologists

Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions and ophthalmic photography. Provide instruction and supervision to other ophthalmic personnel. Assist with minor surgical procedures, applying aseptic techniques and preparing instruments. May perform eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct patients in care and use of corrective lenses.

Healthcare Support Workers, All Other

All healthcare support workers not listed separately.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Diablo Valley College, approximately 17% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 29 similar programs in CA. Actual outcomes may vary.