Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at North Iowa Area Community College

North Iowa Area Community College graduates earn $44,455 in their first year—about $7,500 more than the typical Iowa allied health program and nearly $8,000 above the national median. That places this program in the top 20% nationally and comfortably above the state median, though not quite at the top tier of Iowa community colleges (Hawkeye leads at $39,614 in comparable data). The $17,000 in median debt matches the state average and sits well below the national benchmark, creating a reasonable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38.

The concerning pattern here is the earnings trajectory: graduates see income drop to $41,538 by year four, a 7% decline that's unusual for healthcare roles. This could reflect career transitions, reduced hours, or simply the noise that comes with a small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates are represented in this data. That limitation makes it hard to know whether this earnings dip is a real trend or a statistical quirk.

For an anxious parent, the initial financial picture looks solid—strong starting pay and manageable debt suggest good immediate return. But the small sample size means you're making decisions with limited visibility. If your child is committed to medical assisting in northern Iowa, this program offers a competitive starting point. Just understand the earnings data might not tell the whole story about long-term prospects in this field.