Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Pima Medical Institute-Renton

This Allied Health and Medical Assisting program at Pima Medical Institute-Renton presents a mixed picture that requires careful consideration. While graduates earn significantly more than the national average for this field ($31,915 vs. $27,186 nationally), they're actually earning below the Washington state median of $37,096—ranking in just the 40th percentile among Washington programs. This is particularly concerning given that Washington appears to be a strong market for medical assistants, with the state median nearly $10,000 higher than the national average.

The debt picture is reasonable but not exceptional. At $9,457, student debt is slightly lower than both national and state medians, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30. However, the modest 5% earnings growth over four years suggests limited advancement potential compared to other healthcare fields.

The real issue is opportunity cost within Washington. Top-performing programs like North Seattle College produce graduates earning $48,502—over $16,000 more annually than Pima's graduates. Even mid-tier Washington programs consistently outperform Pima by $5,000-7,000 per year. For Washington residents, this program appears to underperform the state market despite its solid national ranking, making it worth exploring community college alternatives that could deliver significantly better earning potential at similar or lower cost.