Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Jamestown Community College

Jamestown Community College's allied health program costs significantly less than most alternatives—$12,000 in debt versus over $20,000 statewide—but the tradeoff comes in lower starting earnings. At $28,624 one year out, graduates earn about $4,000 less than the typical New York program and $8,000 below the national median. For context, top-performing programs in the state like Orange County Community College see graduates earning nearly double this figure.

The 26% earnings growth to year four is solid, bringing graduates to $36,163, though that still only reaches the national median. The good news is the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 is manageable—graduates owe less than half their first-year salary. However, with such a small cohort (under 30 graduates), these numbers might not reflect a typical outcome. A few graduates doing exceptionally well or poorly could skew the picture significantly.

For families prioritizing minimal debt over maximum earning potential, this program delivers on the first goal. But if your child is willing to take on somewhat more debt at a stronger program, the earnings gap suggests that extra investment could pay off. The fact that this program ranks in the 40th percentile statewide—meaning more than half of New York programs produce better outcomes—is worth considering carefully.