Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Northwestern College

Northwestern College's medical assisting program charges students $13,542 in debt to reach earnings of just over $28,000—a number that doesn't budge over four years. While that debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 looks manageable on paper, the real concern is where this stands among Illinois options: this program sits in the 40th percentile statewide, meaning three out of five comparable Illinois programs deliver better outcomes. Nearby community colleges like College of DuPage and Harper College place graduates at $36,000-$40,000, a gap of roughly $8,000-$12,000 annually that compounds over a career.

The flat earnings trajectory is particularly troubling. Most allied health graduates see at least modest wage growth as they gain experience, but this program's alumni earn essentially the same in year four as year one. Combined with serving a predominantly low-income student body (75% Pell recipients), this means graduates face limited financial mobility precisely when they need it most.

The one bright spot: the debt load, while higher than the Illinois median, remains relatively low compared to many certificate programs nationwide. For a student with no other pathway into healthcare and limited options, this provides an entry point. But for anyone with access to one of Illinois's stronger community college programs—many with lower or comparable debt and significantly better earnings—this isn't where I'd invest limited family resources.