Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Northwood Technical College

The small sample size here is crucial context, but the warning signs are hard to ignore: graduates earn barely $24,000 their first year out—less than half what graduates make at Northcentral Technical College just 90 miles south, and $10,000 below Wisconsin's median for this program. This ranks in the bottom 10% both statewide and nationally, suggesting systemic challenges rather than just a statistical blip from the small cohort.

The debt picture offers modest relief at $12,375, well below both state and national averages. Still, borrowing more than half your first year's salary for a credential that consistently underperforms raises questions about local job market conditions or program connections. When four other Wisconsin technical colleges place graduates earning $38,000 to $53,000 in similar roles, the gap demands explanation. Perhaps Rice Lake's rural location limits opportunities, or maybe clinical placement partnerships aren't translating to strong employment outcomes.

With limited graduates to track, these numbers could shift significantly year to year. But unless you have specific reasons to believe this cohort is unrepresentative—or compelling non-financial reasons to attend in Rice Lake—steering toward programs with proven track records makes sense. At minimum, investigate what's driving the earnings disparity before committing, especially since nearby technical colleges demonstrate that allied health credentials can launch much stronger careers.