Analysis
Similar allied health programs in California suggest first-year earnings around $49,000—significantly above the national benchmark of $37,000 for this field. That's a meaningful advantage, likely reflecting California's higher healthcare wages and cost of living. With estimated debt of $14,000 based on peer community college programs, you're looking at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29, which translates to manageable monthly payments even on an entry-level healthcare salary.
The caveat here is that all these figures are estimates drawn from comparable programs since Modesto Junior College's specific graduate outcomes aren't publicly available. Other California schools with reported data show considerably higher earnings—some topping $60,000—but those comparisons include private career colleges that typically cost more upfront. As a community college program, Modesto Junior College likely offers lower total costs than those alternatives, though the exact debt burden for this specific program remains uncertain.
For parents evaluating this investment, the fundamentals look solid: healthcare jobs are stable, California pays well in this sector, and the estimated debt burden appears reasonable. The limitation is that you're making this decision with borrowed benchmarks rather than this program's actual track record. Request completion rates and job placement statistics directly from the college to fill in what the federal data can't tell you.
Where Modesto Junior College Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all allied health and medical assisting services associates's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs in California
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services associates's programs at peer institutions in California (100 total in state)
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,270 | $48,908* | — | $14,000* | — | |
| — | $61,881* | $44,082 | $29,755* | 0.48 | |
| — | $61,881* | $44,082 | $29,755* | 0.48 | |
| — | $60,043* | $61,960 | $16,500* | 0.27 | |
| — | $59,559* | $61,059 | $29,750* | 0.50 | |
| — | $59,548* | — | $26,064* | 0.44 | |
| National Median | — | $36,862* | — | $19,825* | 0.54 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with allied health and medical assisting services graduates
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Surgical Technologists
Physical Therapist Assistants
Medical Assistants
Pharmacy Technicians
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
Histology Technicians
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other
Neurodiagnostic Technologists
Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other
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 Modesto Junior College, approximately 26% 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 29 similar programs in CA. Actual outcomes may vary.