Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Hawaii Medical College

Hawaii Medical College's medical assisting program lands squarely in the bottom half of what graduates typically earn in this field. At $31,921 one year out, earnings trail both the national median by nearly $5,000 and fall short of Hawaii's median by over $5,000—placing it at just the 40th percentile among Hawaii programs. Kapiolani Community College's similar program produces graduates earning $42,172, a 32% premium that's hard to ignore when comparing in-state options.

The relatively low debt of $13,042 keeps this from being a financial disaster—the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 means graduates face a manageable repayment burden. However, that low debt figure masks a troubling reality: it's still at the 86th percentile nationally, meaning most comparable programs manage to deliver similar credentials for significantly less cost. For a field where earnings potential is already modest, every dollar of debt matters more.

The bottom line for parents: this program gets students credentialed and working in healthcare, but it does so at a cost disadvantage while producing below-average earning outcomes for Hawaii. With only two programs in the state, your options are limited, but Kapiolani's significantly stronger earnings record suggests that's the better bet if your child qualifies. The 53% Pell grant rate indicates this school serves many lower-income students—a noble mission, but not one that changes the financial math for your family.