Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Intellitec College-Colorado Springs

Intellitec's medical assisting program costs about $1,500 more in debt than the state average while producing graduates who earn roughly $2,000 less annually than the typical Colorado medical assistant. That 40th percentile state ranking matters here—students are paying above-average prices for below-average outcomes in a state where community colleges like Front Range and Emily Griffith Technical College deliver substantially better results ($35,838 and $39,475 respectively, both with similar debt loads).

The national picture looks better at first glance—graduates earn about $2,200 more than the U.S. median for this program—but that reflects Colorado's generally higher cost of living rather than any particular strength of this program. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36 is manageable in absolute terms, meaning graduates owe less than four months of their annual salary. With 53% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are making this work despite the program's middling performance.

For Colorado families, this becomes a question of convenience versus value. If Intellitec is the most accessible option logistically, the debt burden won't sink anyone. But if a community college program is within reach—even if it requires a longer commute—those alternatives are likely to put an extra $5,000-10,000 in your child's pocket in their first year alone. In a field where most programs produce similar credentials, location matters less than the numbers suggest.