Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Milan Institute-Sparks

Milan Institute-Sparks' medical assisting program produces graduates earning slightly below Nevada's median for the field, landing at the 40th percentile statewide despite having one of the lowest debt loads in the state. While graduates earn $27,459 in their first year—close to the national average—they trail other Reno-area options like Carrington College by over $5,000 annually. The modest $8,124 in debt keeps the financial burden manageable, but earnings barely budge over the next three years, growing just 5% to $28,858.

The program serves a predominantly working-class population (55% receive Pell grants) and delivers predictable, if unspectacular, outcomes. You're looking at entry-level medical assistant wages that will cover the debt easily but won't provide much upward mobility. The stability cuts both ways: low debt means low risk, but the earnings ceiling appears firmly in place by year four.

For a family prioritizing minimal debt over maximum earnings, this works. But if your student can access Carrington College-Reno or Pima Medical Institute—even with slightly higher debt—the $4,000+ annual earnings difference would likely justify the investment. This is a safe bet that gets you into the field without breaking the bank, just don't expect strong wage growth after that first year.