Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Minnesota State College Southeast

Minnesota's allied health programs cluster in a narrow earnings range, with similar programs typically producing first-year incomes around $40,000—well above the national median of $27,000 for these certificates. This suggests Minnesota's healthcare market pays medical assistants more competitively than most states, which matters when evaluating a program where earnings data comes from five peer institutions across Minnesota rather than this school's specific graduates.

The estimated debt of $18,755 sits slightly above the state median but nearly double the national benchmark. However, the resulting debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 remains manageable for this field—you'd be looking at loan payments that consume about 5-6% of gross income on a standard repayment plan. Other Minnesota technical colleges report similar earnings outcomes (Anoka Tech at $41,583, Century College at $40,253), suggesting these programs deliver relatively consistent results regardless of which campus you choose.

The real question is whether a certificate with this debt load makes sense when medical assisting roles often have limited salary growth. If your child plans to work immediately after graduation and values stable healthcare employment over high earning potential, this appears workable. But if there's any chance of transferring credits toward a higher-paying healthcare credential later, understand that not all certificate credits are accepted by associate degree programs—check the articulation agreements first.