Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Macomb Community College

Macomb Community College's medical assisting program starts slow but builds momentum—graduates earn just $29,234 in their first year, well below both the Michigan median ($32,900) and national average ($36,862). However, by year four, earnings jump to $39,127, representing 34% growth and actually surpassing the state median. This trajectory suggests graduates may begin in entry-level positions but advance relatively quickly, though the program still ranks only at the 40th percentile within Michigan.

The debt picture offers some relief. At $15,865, graduates borrow about $1,400 less than the typical Michigan medical assisting student and roughly $4,000 less than the national median. This gives first-year graduates a debt burden equal to just over half their annual earnings—manageable, though those initial months of loan repayment on an under-$30,000 salary will feel tight. The fact that a third of students receive Pell grants suggests many families are stretching financially to make this work.

If your child can secure one of the stronger medical assisting positions right out of school—the kind that pays closer to what Muskegon or Washtenaw graduates earn—this becomes a much better deal. Otherwise, you're betting on that year-four earnings jump to justify the investment. The relatively low debt helps reduce risk, but this isn't a program where earnings success is guaranteed from day one.