Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Montgomery County Community College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$38,645

95th percentile

80th percentile in Pennsylvania

Median Debt

$9,500

At national median

Analysis

Montgomery County Community College's Allied Health program shows something unusual: graduates earn nearly $40,000 right after finishing—putting them ahead of 80% of similar programs in Pennsylvania and 95% nationally. That's roughly $11,000 more than the typical PA medical assistant starting out. The debt level of $9,500 is manageable, translating to just three months of initial earnings.

The catch? Earnings drop sharply to $27,000 by year four, falling below the state average. This pattern could reflect several dynamics: perhaps graduates use medical assisting as a stepping stone before transitioning to other healthcare roles, or maybe the initial cohort includes more experienced workers returning for credentials. With fewer than 30 graduates in this dataset, individual career paths can skew the numbers dramatically.

For parents, the low debt-to-earnings ratio (0.25) means minimal financial risk even if the earnings trajectory holds. The strong initial placement suggests the program connects students to decent-paying entry positions in the competitive Philadelphia healthcare market. Just understand that medical assisting typically doesn't offer dramatic wage growth—the Bureau of Labor Statistics pegs median pay around $38,000 nationwide—so those first-year earnings may represent the career ceiling rather than the floor.

Where Montgomery County Community College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all allied health and medical assisting services certificate's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Montgomery County Community College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Montgomery County Community College	$38,645	$27,137	-30%
Lincoln Technical Institute-Allentown	$31,098	$31,123	+0%
Pennsylvania Institute of Technology	$28,413	$30,435	+7%
Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia	$23,992	$28,274	+18%
All-State Career School	$30,926	$27,143	-12%

Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services certificate's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (45 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Montgomery County Community CollegeBlue Bell	$6,270	$38,645	$27,137	$9,500	0.25
Harrisburg Area Community CollegeHarrisburg	$7,373	$32,660	—	$14,250	0.44
Lincoln Technical Institute-AllentownAllentown	—	$31,098	$31,123	$11,237	0.36
All-State Career SchoolEssington	—	$30,926	$27,143	$10,840	0.35
Pennsylvania Institute of TechnologyMedia	$14,445	$28,413	$30,435	$15,115	0.53
Great Lakes Institute of TechnologyErie	—	$27,108	$25,638	$11,629	0.43
National Median	—	$27,186	—	$9,500	0.35

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with allied health and medical assisting services graduates

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Occupational Therapy Assistants

Assist occupational therapists in providing occupational therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, direct activity programs, and document the progress of treatments. Generally requires formal training.

$66,050/yrJobs growth:

Surgical Technologists

Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.

$62,480/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Physical Therapist Assistants

Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.

$60,050/yrJobs growth:

Medical Assistants

Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.

$44,200/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Pharmacy Technicians

Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.

$43,460/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

Perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May work under the supervision of a medical technologist.

Histology Technicians

Prepare histological slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. May assist with research studies.

Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other

All health technologists and technicians not listed separately.

Neurodiagnostic Technologists

Conduct electroneurodiagnostic (END) tests such as electroencephalograms, evoked potentials, polysomnograms, or electronystagmograms. May perform nerve conduction studies.

Ophthalmic Medical Technologists

Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions and ophthalmic photography. Provide instruction and supervision to other ophthalmic personnel. Assist with minor surgical procedures, applying aseptic techniques and preparing instruments. May perform eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct patients in care and use of corrective lenses.

Healthcare Support Workers, All Other

All healthcare support workers not listed separately.

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 Montgomery County Community College, approximately 29% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 22 graduates with reported earnings and 24 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.