Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Fortis College-Orange Park

The earnings trajectory here reveals an uncomfortable truth: Fortis graduates start slightly ahead but lose ground quickly, making less at the four-year mark than they did initially. While the program edges out Florida's median by about $2,000 in year one, it still falls significantly short of what top state programs deliver—Miami Dade and Palm Beach State graduates earn roughly $8,000 more annually, a meaningful difference on a medical assistant's budget.

The debt load of $9,500 isn't catastrophic—it represents just four months of first-year income. Three-quarters of students here receive Pell grants, suggesting this serves a financially vulnerable population seeking a quick pathway to employment. For families in that position, the low absolute debt matters more than the declining earnings pattern. However, the comparison to community college options is hard to ignore: you're paying similar money for a certificate that delivers less income and serves students with fewer resources for managing even modest debt.

If your child needs credentials fast and this is the most accessible local option, the debt burden won't sink them. But if a Florida community college is within reach—geographically and academically—those alternatives consistently produce better earnings outcomes at comparable cost. The question isn't whether medical assisting is viable work; it's whether this particular program maximizes your investment compared to other nearby options.