Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at East Los Angeles College

Similar allied health programs in California suggest first-year earnings around $49,000 against an estimated $14,000 in debt—a ratio of 0.29 that looks manageable on paper. But context matters here: while that earnings figure exceeds the national median for this field by over $12,000, it's drawn from just 29 California programs, and debt estimates come from only three similar community colleges statewide. The small sample size means there's genuine uncertainty about what East Los Angeles College graduates specifically experience.

The encouraging part is the debt load. At an estimated $14,000, it sits well below both the state and national medians for this credential, which is exactly what you'd expect from a community college. If the earnings estimate holds true, graduates would owe less than three months of their first-year salary—a workable starting point for most borrowers. The challenge is that top performers in California are producing graduates earning $60,000 or more, suggesting significant variation in outcomes even within the same state and field.

For parents weighing this investment, the fundamentals look sound if your child needs an affordable path into healthcare work. Community college pricing keeps the financial risk low. Just recognize these figures tell you what's typical across comparable programs, not what this specific pathway delivers. If allied health feels like the right fit, the debt burden shouldn't be prohibitive—but understanding which specific roles this degree qualifies graduates for would clarify whether that $49,000 estimate is realistic.