Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Lane Community College

Lane Community College's medical assisting program produces graduates earning $42,142 in their first year—beating the national median by nearly $6,000 and outperforming most Oregon programs at the 60th percentile statewide. These graduates also see steady income growth, reaching $46,000 by year four. While the $25,000 debt load sits above typical figures for this field, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 remains manageable, especially given earnings that compete with larger programs like Mt Hood Community College.

The challenge here is the small graduating class size, which means these numbers could shift significantly year to year. That said, the consistent pattern—above-average earnings paired with moderate debt—suggests Lane has built something that works for students entering medical support roles. With healthcare support occupations projected to grow faster than average in Oregon, graduates enter a field with clear employment prospects.

For parents weighing this investment: your child would likely earn enough in their first year to make the debt serviceable, with income climbing from there. Just recognize you're looking at a small program where individual outcomes vary more than they would at a larger school. If your student is drawn to hands-on medical support work and values staying in Oregon, this represents a solid return on a two-year investment.