Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls

This program starts graduates at nearly $26,000 annually, but that figure actually slips to $25,000 by year four—a troubling trajectory when most allied health careers should show wage growth as skills develop. While the $9,500 in debt is modest and manageable at just 37% of first-year earnings, the real concern here is that Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls lands below the middle of the pack both nationally (38th percentile) and among Ohio's 83 programs offering this credential. Nearby Sinclair Community College graduates earn 73% more in the same field, and even sister campus Fortis College-Centerville posts higher numbers.

For a program serving predominantly low-income students (76% on Pell grants), landing below both state and national medians matters enormously. These graduates are earning $1,300 less than the typical Ohio allied health certificate holder and $1,400 below the national benchmark. The wage decline over four years suggests limited opportunities for advancement or professional development.

The debt load won't crush anyone, but parents should ask why their child would accept below-average outcomes when stronger alternatives exist within the same region. Unless this location offers unique convenience or scheduling advantages, Ohio families have better options for allied health training that deliver meaningfully higher earning potential from day one.