Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Fortis Institute-Port Saint Lucie

Fortis Institute's medical assisting program delivers below-average earnings despite manageable debt levels. With first-year earnings of $25,556, graduates earn about $1,600 less than the national median and $700 less than the Florida average for similar programs. Among Florida's 99 medical assisting programs, this ranks in just the 40th percentile—meaning 60% of comparable programs produce better-earning graduates.

The debt picture offers some relief, with the $9,500 median matching both national and state averages. This creates a reasonable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37, meaning graduates can expect to earn back their investment in under three years. The 10% earnings growth from year one to year four also provides modest optimism, though graduates still trail peers significantly even after four years in the field.

What's particularly concerning is the performance gap compared to Florida's top programs. Students at Manatee Technical College or Miami Dade College earn $10,000+ more annually right out of the gate. For a parent considering this investment, the math suggests looking at community colleges or technical schools with stronger track records—the same debt but substantially better earning potential makes those alternatives worth serious consideration before committing to Fortis Institute.