Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Midlands Technical College

The debt picture here deserves your attention first: at just $19,024, Midlands Technical College's Allied Health program carries roughly half the national median debt for similar programs. That's the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of comparable programs saddle students with more debt. For a certificate that takes students into the workforce quickly, this conservative borrowing approach matters.

The earnings of $31,912 beat both state and national medians, landing this program in the 82nd percentile nationally. Among South Carolina's 19 allied health programs, it ranks solidly in the 60th percentile—trailing only Spartanburg Community College and Technical College of the Lowcountry by a small margin. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 means graduates could theoretically pay off loans in under eight months if they devoted their entire salary to it—a manageable burden for an entry-level healthcare position.

The caveat: we're looking at a small graduating class here (under 30 students), so individual circumstances can swing these numbers significantly. Still, the pattern is clear—low debt with competitive earnings in a field with steady demand. For families worried about their child taking on crushing debt for a certificate program, this represents a relatively safe entry point into healthcare careers.