Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Garden State Science and Technology Institute

Garden State Science and Technology Institute's graduates earn just $17,568 one year after completion—barely above minimum wage and 37% less than the New Jersey median for medical assisting programs. This places the program in the bottom 10th percentile statewide, with earnings less than half of what graduates achieve at nearby Eastwick College-Ramsey ($33,265) or ASI Career Institute ($31,485). Even accounting for the program's relatively modest debt load of $7,356, these earnings are troublingly low for a healthcare credential that should provide stable entry into the workforce.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 might seem manageable on paper, but it obscures a more fundamental problem: the absolute earnings are simply inadequate. At $17,568 annually, graduates are earning roughly $8.50 per hour—barely enough to cover basic living expenses in the Jersey City area, let alone service student loans. With 80% of students receiving Pell grants, this program is enrolling vulnerable students who need strong employment outcomes, yet it's delivering results that rank in the bottom 5% nationally.

When nearly every comparable program in New Jersey—including other for-profit certificates—produces earnings 60-90% higher, parents should ask pointed questions about placement rates, employer partnerships, and why this program underperforms so dramatically. This certificate appears to be a poor investment relative to readily available alternatives in the same state.