Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Pima Medical Institute-East Valley

This Allied Health program at Pima Medical Institute-East Valley delivers strong earnings that significantly outperform national expectations. With first-year earnings of $31,915, graduates earn about $4,700 more than the national median for similar programs—landing in the 82nd percentile nationally. While the program ranks at the 60th percentile within Arizona (where medical assisting pays better overall), it still matches the earnings of Pima's other campuses and performs competitively with top community college programs in the state.

The financial picture is reasonable with $9,457 in median debt, resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30. This means graduates typically owe less than four months of their starting salary, which is sustainable for most borrowers. However, career growth appears limited—earnings only increase 5% over four years to $33,511, suggesting this field offers steady employment rather than significant advancement opportunities.

For parents considering this investment, the program offers solid value: above-average starting pay, manageable debt, and immediate entry into stable healthcare employment. The robust sample size makes these outcomes reliable. While earnings growth is modest, the strong starting position and reasonable debt load make this a practical choice for students seeking quick entry into healthcare careers.