Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at First Institute of Travel Inc.

First Institute of Travel's medical assisting certificate delivers impressive first-year outcomes—$33,597 puts graduates in the 93rd percentile nationally—but those earnings actually decline to $31,754 by year four. While this is still well above the national median for the program, it's concerning that graduates earn less four years out than they do immediately after completion.

The $9,500 in typical debt is manageable given first-year earnings, representing just three to four months of gross income. However, the earnings trajectory deserves scrutiny. Among Illinois programs, this ranks squarely in the middle (60th percentile), trailing community colleges like College of DuPage and Harper by $6,000-7,000 annually. Given that half the students here receive Pell grants, the debt load is reasonable, but the earnings ceiling appears lower than at comparable local institutions.

For families prioritizing immediate employment and modest debt, this program checks those boxes. But if your student is considering this field seriously and qualifies for admission elsewhere, the community college alternatives offer meaningfully higher earning potential—particularly if they're paying similar tuition anyway. The backwards earnings trend suggests limited advancement opportunity, which matters more over a career than a strong starting salary.