Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Madison Area Technical College

Madison Area Technical College's Allied Health program lands in an interesting position: it earns more than most similar programs in Wisconsin (60th percentile statewide) while charging significantly less in debt than both state and national averages. At $15,375, students here borrow about $8,000 less than the Wisconsin median—a meaningful difference when you're starting at $35,549 annually. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 means graduates can realistically manage their loans, even if the earnings don't match the state's top technical colleges like Northcentral ($53,523) or Lakeshore ($52,020).

The gap between Madison's outcomes and Wisconsin's best programs is substantial—nearly $18,000 compared to top performers. This likely reflects different program specializations within allied health, where specific credentials (surgical tech, respiratory therapy) command higher salaries than general medical assisting. However, Madison's lower debt load partially offsets this earnings difference, and the program still outperforms the state median.

For families prioritizing manageable debt and solid employment prospects in healthcare support roles, this represents a reasonable path. The lower borrowing means graduates have more flexibility in their early careers, even if they're not reaching the earning power of specialized allied health programs elsewhere in the state. Just understand you're trading some earning potential for financial accessibility.