Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Healthcare Career College

Starting at under $22,000 might sound discouraging, but Healthcare Career College's medical assisting program shows impressive earnings growth—graduates see their income jump 41% to nearly $31,000 by year four. That's meaningful progress for a program serving predominantly Pell-eligible students with relatively modest debt. However, context matters: this still ranks in just the 25th percentile among California medical assisting programs, where the median graduate earns $27,000 initially. Top programs in the state—like Empire College and Bay Area Medical Academy—produce graduates earning $38,000 to $41,000.

The $9,500 debt load is manageable and typical for this credential, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44 that improves as income grows. The real question is whether the earnings trajectory can catch up. If you're considering this program primarily because of location or immediate enrollment needs, understand that you're likely trading some earning potential for accessibility. The stronger alternative would be exploring higher-ranked programs in California, even if that means relocating within the state, since the earnings gap is substantial and persists over time.

For families already working with tight budgets—which describes most students here—starting this far below peers means every dollar counts more. This program gets graduates working quickly, but not necessarily earning competitively.