Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at National American University-Rapid City

National American University-Rapid City's medical assisting program delivers solid earnings—graduates earn $30,234 in their first year, outpacing both the state median ($26,154) and the national benchmark ($27,186). At the 60th percentile among South Dakota programs and 70th percentile nationally, these outcomes place it among the stronger options in an admittedly modest-paying field. However, the debt load tells a more problematic story.

The $26,572 in median debt is nearly three times the national median for these programs ($9,500) and ranks in the 95th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of similar programs saddle students with less debt. While the 0.88 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic, it means graduates face a full year's salary in loans for a certificate that typically takes less than a year to complete. This is particularly concerning given that 57% of students here receive Pell grants, suggesting many come from families with limited ability to help with loan payments.

The math is straightforward: you're paying premium prices for above-average (but not exceptional) outcomes in a field where most programs cost far less. Unless your child has compelling reasons to attend this specific institution—like proximity or scheduling flexibility that other South Dakota programs can't match—the debt burden here makes it hard to recommend over lower-cost alternatives, even if those alternatives show slightly lower earnings.