Health and Medical Administrative Services at Pima Medical Institute-Tucson

Pima Medical Institute graduates earn $38,456 in their first year—$7,000 more than the typical graduate in this program nationally and placing them in the 85th percentile. That's a meaningful advantage, though within Arizona specifically, the program sits at the 60th percentile, trailing Pima Community College by about $1,000 annually. The debt load of $23,757 is slightly above the state median but manageable, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62.

The concern here isn't the starting position—it's what happens next. Earnings essentially flatline over the following three years, growing just 1% to $38,833. For a program serving nearly half Pell Grant recipients, this stagnation limits mobility and long-term financial flexibility. While graduates aren't buried in debt, they're also not building the kind of earning momentum that makes a two-year degree feel like a springboard.

The verdict: This program gets graduates employed at decent wages quickly, outperforming most national peers. But if you're choosing between Arizona options, the local community college delivers similar outcomes with lower debt. Pima Medical Institute works if immediate employment matters most, but the flat earnings trajectory means your child should be realistic about advancement prospects in this field.