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

Fortis College's medical assisting program ranks in the bottom quarter of Utah options—25th percentile statewide—with first-year earnings of $25,883 compared to a state median of $32,132. That's roughly $6,200 less annually than what graduates earn from Utah's technical colleges like Davis Tech or Bridgerland. The gap matters: over four years, that difference adds up to nearly $25,000 in lost income, and the trajectory doesn't improve. Earnings actually slip 3% to $25,030 by year four, suggesting limited advancement potential in the positions these graduates secure.

The debt load of $9,500 seems manageable on paper—it's average for this field nationally. But context changes that picture: you're borrowing typical amounts for below-typical outcomes. With 61% of students on Pell grants, many families here are making this investment with limited resources, and the program isn't delivering competitive returns for Utah's medical assisting market.

If Utah's public technical colleges are accessible, they're producing substantially better outcomes in this same field. The $6,000+ annual earnings difference between Fortis and programs like Davis Tech makes the choice straightforward—unless schedule flexibility or location creates barriers to those alternatives. For a family weighing this certificate, understanding why other Utah schools consistently place graduates into higher-paying positions should be the starting point.