Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Milan Institute-Clovis

Milan Institute-Clovis graduates start at nearly $5,000 below California's median for medical assisting programs—a significant gap when you consider the state has 185 schools to choose from. While the $9,235 debt load is manageable and represents a reasonable 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio, the real concern is the starting salary of $24,563. That's roughly $2,600 less than the national median, and within California, this program sits at just the 40th percentile. The top programs in the state, like Empire College and Bay Area Medical Academy, place graduates earning 50-60% more right out of the gate.

The modest 8% earnings growth to $26,477 by year four doesn't close this gap meaningfully. Even after four years, graduates still trail the state median for first-year earnings. For a field where earnings potential is relatively fixed by certification and market rates, starting behind means staying behind. The 65% Pell grant rate suggests many students here are already financially vulnerable, making that lower earning power more consequential.

The affordable debt is this program's saving grace—you won't be drowning in payments. But if your child can access one of California's stronger medical assisting programs, especially at a community college like Cabrillo where outcomes are far better, that's the smarter path. This program gets you credentialed, but it doesn't position you competitively in California's medical assisting job market.