Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Fox Valley Technical College

Fox Valley Technical College's Allied Health program delivers something unusual: a credential that dramatically outperforms national standards but underperforms within Wisconsin. Graduates earn $33,981 after one year—putting them in the 95th percentile nationally but below the state median of $34,484. This isn't surprising when you look at Wisconsin's technical college system: at least five comparable programs produce stronger earnings, with Blackhawk's graduates earning $3,200 more annually.

The debt load tells a more favorable story. At $13,250, borrowers here pay about $2,000 more than the Wisconsin median but still carry 40% less debt than typical national peers. That yields a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39, meaning most graduates could realistically pay off their loans within a year of full-time work. The concern is the slight earnings dip to $32,994 by year four, though this may reflect career plateau rather than decline in this field.

For Wisconsin families, this becomes a location question. If Fox Valley's Appleton campus is geographically convenient, the modest debt and solid national standing make this a reasonable choice. But students willing to travel should explore Western Technical or Blackhawk—the extra $2,000-$3,000 in annual earnings could compound significantly over a career, particularly since these programs carry similar or lower debt.