Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Mountwest Community and Technical College

Mountwest's Allied Health program starts promisingly at $35,603 but earnings drop 13% by year four—an unusual pattern for healthcare credentials that typically gain value over time. While this might reflect graduates moving into part-time work or shifting to lower-paying care settings, it's a trend worth understanding before committing.

The financial profile offers a silver lining: at just $12,414 in debt, this is one of the most affordable Allied Health programs you'll find. Nationally, comparable programs typically saddle students with nearly $20,000 in debt. Combined with that first-year salary, the debt burden represents only 35% of initial earnings—manageable by any standard. Within West Virginia, this program sits in the 60th percentile for earnings, outperforming the state median of $28,879 and beating seven of the other eleven schools offering this degree.

The challenge is that "Allied Health and Medical Assisting" is a broad credential that can lead to vastly different career paths—from medical assistants earning $30,000 to specialized roles paying $45,000+. Before enrolling, your child should clarify exactly which positions this program prepares them for and whether local Huntington employers hire Mountwest graduates into roles with advancement potential. The low debt makes this a relatively safe bet, but the earnings trajectory suggests this may be more of a career-entry credential than a long-term foundation.