Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Lake Superior College

Lake Superior College's Allied Health certificate reveals an unusual disconnect: graduates earn more than 90% of similar programs nationally yet trail the typical Minnesota outcome by nearly $8,000. The $33,245 starting salary beats the national median by $6,000, and the debt load of $16,000 is remarkably manageable. But within Minnesota's competitive medical assisting landscape—where the state median sits at $40,180—this program lands in just the 25th percentile.

The earnings picture raises questions about long-term trajectory. Graduates actually see a slight decline from year one to year four, unusual for healthcare credentials that typically gain value with experience. Meanwhile, most other Minnesota programs deliver $8,000-$10,000 higher starting salaries for similar or even lower debt burdens. Century College and Anoka Technical College graduates, for instance, start around $41,000 with comparable debt levels.

The small sample size here matters—with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could shift significantly with more data. For a family considering this program, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 is responsible, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a cheaper entry point nationally. But if your child can access one of Minnesota's stronger medical assisting programs, the $8,000 annual earnings difference would recover any extra tuition costs quickly. This works as a backup option, but Minnesota families have better choices in-state.