Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts

This small program punches well above its weight nationally but tells a more nuanced story within California's competitive allied health market. Graduates earn $58,718 their first year—nearly 60% above the national median for medical assisting programs and in the top 5% nationwide. That's impressive anywhere, though in California, where the median is already $48,908, this program lands at the 60th percentile statewide. Put simply: it's solid for California, exceptional compared to the rest of the country.

The debt picture reinforces the value. At $14,785, students borrow about $5,000 less than typical California peers and nearly $5,000 below the national median. The 0.25 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe roughly three months' salary—manageable by any standard. For a field serving nearly half Pell Grant recipients, that accessibility matters.

The caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes may vary more than at larger programs. Still, the combination of strong earnings and below-average debt suggests Gurnick has found an effective formula. For families focused on immediate employability and reasonable costs, this program delivers on both fronts, even if it doesn't quite match California's very top medical assisting programs.