Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Lower Columbia College

Based on similar medical assisting programs across Washington, graduates can expect to earn around $43,400 in their first year—a figure that sits right at the state median and notably above the $36,900 national average for this field. The estimated $18,200 in debt produces a manageable 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning borrowers would owe roughly five months of gross income. For context, comparable programs in Washington typically saddle students with about $19,700 in debt, so Lower Columbia appears aligned with state norms on the cost side.

The challenge is understanding where this program truly sits competitively. Washington's top-performing medical assisting programs—like Tacoma Community College and Highline College—report first-year earnings in the $50,000-$58,000 range, suggesting wide variation in outcomes even within the same state and credential type. Without actual graduate data from Lower Columbia specifically, it's unclear whether this program produces outcomes at the state median or falls somewhere else in that spectrum. The 31% Pell grant rate indicates the school serves students who may need every earnings advantage they can get.

If your child is committed to medical assisting and needs to stay local, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable affordability. But given the higher outcomes at peer institutions, it's worth investigating whether those programs are accessible alternatives and what drives their stronger results—clinical placement networks, employer relationships, or specialized training tracks that might make a difference in early career earnings.