Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degree) at Metropolitan Community College Area

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$39,334

Est. from NE median (5 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$16,250

Est. from NE median (3 programs)

Analysis

Similar allied health programs in Nebraska suggest first-year earnings around $39,300—right at the state median but below what some Nebraska community colleges report for their graduates. The estimated debt load of $16,250 is manageable, translating to a 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio that's well within the range financial aid experts consider reasonable for career-focused associate degrees. This is notably lower than the national median debt of nearly $20,000 for this field.

The challenge with Metropolitan Community College's program is that you're making this decision without seeing actual graduate outcomes from this specific school. While peer programs across Nebraska generally cluster in the high $30,000s to low $40,000s range, schools like Northeast Community College and Clarkson College report graduates earning $3,000-$4,000 more annually. That difference matters when your child will be making loan payments on entry-level medical assisting or allied health salaries.

The practical implication: if your child is set on this field and this location works logistically, the estimated debt burden shouldn't be a deal-breaker. But reach out to Metropolitan's career services office and ask directly about job placement rates and where recent graduates are working. Those concrete outcomes—not state-level estimates—will tell you whether this program delivers on its promise.

Where Metropolitan Community College Area Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all allied health and medical assisting services associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Nebraska

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services associates's programs at peer institutions in Nebraska (7 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Metropolitan Community College AreaOmaha	$3,285	$39,334*	—	$16,250*	—
Northeast Community CollegeNorfolk	$3,840	$42,190*	$37,651	$13,416*	0.32
Clarkson CollegeOmaha	$15,168	$41,699*	$42,220	$30,534*	0.73
Southeast Community College AreaLincoln	$3,540	$39,334*	$38,596	$17,675*	0.45
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied HealthOmaha	$18,173	$37,878*	$40,725	—*	—
Central Community CollegeGrand Island	$3,360	$37,307*	$36,990	$16,250*	0.44
National Median	—	$36,862*	—	$19,825*	0.54

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with allied health and medical assisting services graduates

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Occupational Therapy Assistants

Assist occupational therapists in providing occupational therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, direct activity programs, and document the progress of treatments. Generally requires formal training.

$66,050/yrJobs growth:

Surgical Technologists

Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.

$62,480/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Physical Therapist Assistants

Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.

$60,050/yrJobs growth:

Medical Assistants

Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.

$44,200/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Pharmacy Technicians

Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.

$43,460/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

Perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May work under the supervision of a medical technologist.

Histology Technicians

Prepare histological slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. May assist with research studies.

Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other

All health technologists and technicians not listed separately.

Neurodiagnostic Technologists

Conduct electroneurodiagnostic (END) tests such as electroencephalograms, evoked potentials, polysomnograms, or electronystagmograms. May perform nerve conduction studies.

Ophthalmic Medical Technologists

Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions and ophthalmic photography. Provide instruction and supervision to other ophthalmic personnel. Assist with minor surgical procedures, applying aseptic techniques and preparing instruments. May perform eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct patients in care and use of corrective lenses.

Healthcare Support Workers, All Other

All healthcare support workers not listed separately.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Metropolitan Community College Area, approximately 20% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 5 similar programs in NE. Actual outcomes may vary.