Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Lincoln Land Community College

Lincoln Land's medical assisting graduates earn significantly less than typical Illinois residents in the same field—about $31,300 compared to the state median of $40,000. That's a substantial gap, putting this program in the bottom quarter both statewide and nationally. When nearby Oakton College graduates earn $52,000 and even comparable community colleges like South Suburban place graduates at $46,500, the earnings shortfall here is hard to ignore. The debt load sits right around state average at $16,681, but it takes a bigger bite when paired with lower earnings.

The 0.53 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't terrible by community college standards—graduates earn nearly twice what they borrowed within their first year. However, that first-year salary of $31,324 leaves little room for comfortable loan repayment alongside basic living expenses. With 37% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are banking on immediate employability and stable income.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift considerably with more data, but the consistency across both state and national comparisons suggests a real pattern. If your child is committed to medical assisting, this program offers an affordable entry point, but exploring higher-performing Illinois community colleges could mean $10,000-15,000 more in annual earning power—a difference that compounds significantly over a career.