Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at North-West College-Long Beach

North-West College-Long Beach delivers solid but unremarkable results for medical assisting, with graduates earning slightly above both national and California medians at $28,420 in their first year. While this places the program in the 60th percentile among California's 185 similar programs, the numbers reveal a concerning pattern: earnings actually decline by 3% from year one to year four, dropping to $27,553. This suggests limited career advancement opportunities in the field.

The debt burden is manageable at $9,500—exactly matching both national and state medians—creating a reasonable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33. However, when you compare this program to California's top performers, the gap becomes stark. The best programs in the state produce graduates earning $40,000+ annually, nearly $12,000 more than North-West College graduates.

For families considering this investment, the program offers a low-risk entry into healthcare with modest debt, but expect limited earning potential and career growth. At 60% Pell Grant recipients, this school clearly serves students who need affordable options, and it delivers on that front. However, if your child can access higher-performing programs like those at community colleges such as Cabrillo, the significantly higher earning potential would justify exploring those alternatives first.