Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Nash Community College

Nash Community College's medical assisting program outperforms most North Carolina competitors while keeping debt manageable, though the small graduate cohort means these results could shift year to year. At $38,589 starting and $45,214 four years out, graduates earn above both the state median ($34,923) and national median ($36,862)—ranking in the 60th percentile statewide. More importantly, the $14,882 in typical debt sits well below North Carolina's $22,004 average for this program, meaning graduates face about a third of their first-year salary in loans rather than half or more.

The 17% earnings growth suggests decent advancement opportunities in the field, and the debt load is reasonable enough that graduates shouldn't struggle with repayment on a medical assistant's salary. While a couple of North Carolina community colleges show stronger starting earnings (Martin and Southwestern both top $42,000), Nash's combination of above-average pay and below-average debt creates a solid value equation for students planning to stay in the region.

The caveat: with fewer than 30 graduates in this cohort, these numbers reflect a small sample that might not hold steady every year. But for a parent weighing community college medical assisting programs across North Carolina, Nash offers a compelling middle ground—better outcomes than most state peers without the debt burden that often undermines associate degrees in healthcare support roles.