Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Las Vegas College

Las Vegas College's medical assisting program starts strong with first-year earnings nearly $3,000 above the national median, but then moves backward. By year four, graduates are earning about $1,700 less than when they started—a trajectory that should concern any parent looking at long-term returns. Among Nevada's 10 programs, this ranks solidly mid-pack at the 60th percentile, trailing competitors like Carrington and Pima Medical Institute by $3,000-$4,000 annually.

The positive angle here is debt: at $8,810, it's manageable and below both state and national medians. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 means graduates can realistically pay this off within a year or two of steady work. That's meaningful protection for a family concerned about financial risk, especially given that half the students here receive Pell grants.

The real question is why earnings decline instead of grow. Medical assisting typically offers stable employment, so this pattern suggests graduates may be hitting a career ceiling quickly or leaving the field. For a parent, this means the certificate opens doors but may not build a career ladder. If your child views this as a stepping stone to further healthcare training, that's reasonable. As a standalone credential, the numbers suggest looking at Carrington's programs first—they deliver similar debt with $4,000 more in earning power.