Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Lewis and Clark Community College

Lewis and Clark Community College's allied health program starts slow but delivers something increasingly rare: genuine earnings growth. Graduates begin at $31,607—well below both the Illinois median ($40,034) and national average—but by year four, they reach $40,849. That's a 29% bump, which matters when most associate programs plateau early.

The debt load deserves attention. At $11,242, it's exceptionally low—better than 95% of similar programs nationally and roughly a third of what students typically borrow in Illinois for this degree. That means graduates face a manageable 0.36 debt-to-earnings ratio in their first year, and as their salaries climb, that burden quickly becomes insignificant. Compare this to other Illinois schools where students routinely graduate with $17,000+ in debt for barely higher starting wages.

The real question is whether starting $8,000-$9,000 below the state median is worth the minimal debt and upward trajectory. If your student is debt-averse and willing to grind through leaner early years, this program won't trap them. But if they can access stronger programs like Oakton or South Suburban—where graduates start above $46,000—those are worth serious consideration, even at higher borrowing costs. Lewis and Clark won't wow employers out of the gate, but it won't financially cripple your kid either.