Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Johnson College

Johnson College's allied health program produces first-year earnings of $34,834, which beats the state median but falls short of the national benchmark by about $2,000. What complicates the picture is that while these earnings are reported, the debt figure of $28,332 is estimated from peer programs in Pennsylvania—significantly higher than both state and national median debt of roughly $20,000. If that estimate holds, graduates would carry about 81 cents of debt for every dollar earned in year one.

That debt-to-earnings ratio matters in practical terms. While allied health careers typically offer steady employment, $28,332 in debt on a $34,834 salary leaves limited financial breathing room, especially since medical assistants rarely see dramatic salary jumps early in their careers. The program does serve a predominantly working-class student body (46% receive Pell grants), but similar programs in Pennsylvania like Community College of Allegheny County produce comparable earnings likely with lower debt loads at a community college price point.

The key uncertainty here is whether Johnson's actual debt burden matches that $28,332 estimate. If their graduates carry significantly less debt than comparable Pennsylvania programs, the value proposition improves considerably. Before committing, get the school to disclose their typical graduate debt—if it's closer to $20,000, this becomes a more viable path; if it's actually higher than $28,000, consider whether community college alternatives might offer similar career outcomes at lower cost.