Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Fortis College-Cutler Bay

Fortis College-Cutler Bay's medical assisting program outperforms most competitors in Florida, placing in the 60th percentile statewide—but that still leaves significant money on the table. Graduates earn $28,653 in their first year, roughly $2,400 more than the Florida median for this credential. However, the state's top-performing programs like Manatee Technical College and Miami Dade College produce graduates earning $34,000-$36,000 annually, 25-30% more for similar training. With debt of $11,466 manageable but above the state median, the return here is decent but not optimal.

The stagnant earnings trajectory raises questions about career advancement in this program's typical pathways. Graduates actually see a slight decline to $28,120 by year four, suggesting limited opportunity for salary growth without additional credentials. For a family considering this investment—particularly given that 76% of students receive Pell grants—that flat trajectory means the initial debt burden remains roughly proportional to earnings throughout the early career years.

If Fortis is your most convenient option in South Florida, it clears the basic bar: debt is reasonable at 40% of first-year earnings, and you'll out-earn many peers statewide. But if you can access one of Florida's higher-performing programs, especially the public technical colleges posting $33,000+ outcomes, that extra $5,000 annually compounds significantly over a career. Location matters in medical assisting, but so does that $20,000+ difference over four years.