Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Fortis College-Salt Lake City

The debt load here demands attention: similar programs at for-profit colleges nationally suggest around $25,500 in loans for an associate's degree, while comparable allied health programs in Utah typically carry $18,000. That $7,500 gap matters when first-year earnings—based on four Utah programs in this field—hover around $38,300. While the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67 falls within manageable territory, it's worth noting that Utah's community and technical colleges produce similar outcomes at substantially lower cost.

The four-year earnings drop to $20,800 is puzzling and likely reflects graduates who've shifted to part-time work or left the field rather than a typical career trajectory. Looking at actual outcomes from other Utah schools, medical assistants and allied health workers at Provo College earn $41,000, Utah Tech graduates make nearly $40,000, and even Salt Lake Community College—a public option—reports $34,900. These programs cluster in a reasonable range, suggesting stability in the field.

For parents of students qualifying for Pell grants (61% here do), the cost differential becomes more pressing. If your child can access one of Utah's public options offering comparable training for $7,000 less in debt, that's real money saved. But if Fortis offers scheduling flexibility or support services that make completion more likely, the premium might justify itself—just confirm that graduates from this specific campus are finding the work these peer programs suggest is available.