Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Olympic College

Olympic College's allied health program shows first-year earnings of $41,886—solid compared to the national median but trailing most Washington competitors. While debt appears manageable at an estimated $18,220 based on similar associate programs in the state, the real concern is what happens after that first year: earnings actually decline to $38,060 by year four, a 9% drop that's unusual for healthcare fields.

This earnings trajectory suggests graduates may be locked into entry-level medical assisting roles rather than advancing into higher-paying clinical positions. The comparison to other Washington programs is telling—Tacoma Community College and Highline College produce graduates earning $50,000-$58,000 in their first year, nearly 40% more than Olympic's outcomes. That gap indicates Olympic's program may not be connecting students with the same quality of employment opportunities, even within the same regional healthcare market.

The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 looks reasonable on paper, but it assumes stable earnings. With income actually declining and limited upward mobility evident, the financial picture deteriorates quickly. For families in the Bremerton area where Olympic is located, this matters: you're taking on real debt for outcomes that fall short of what nearby community colleges deliver, and for a career path that doesn't appear to offer meaningful wage growth.