Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Highline College

Highline College's Allied Health program manages to combine exceptional value with an unusual earnings pattern that deserves a closer look. At $7,197 in median debt—about a third of what students typically borrow for this program—graduates start with minimal financial burden and first-year earnings of $50,468 that place them among the top 5% nationally. However, by year four, earnings drop to $41,572, suggesting that many graduates may be transitioning between healthcare roles or moving into positions with different compensation structures.

Within Washington, this program sits squarely in the middle of the pack at the 60th percentile, trailing schools like Tacoma Community College and Spokane Falls but still outperforming the state median. That middle-tier ranking matters less when you consider the debt advantage—most Washington programs carry three times the student loan burden. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.14 means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in less than two months of work.

The earnings decline from year one to year four is the primary question mark here. It could reflect graduates moving from clinical roles into administrative positions, or it might indicate challenges with career progression in this field. Either way, the combination of minimal debt and strong initial placement makes this a low-risk pathway into healthcare, even if long-term earnings growth isn't guaranteed.