Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Plaza College

Plaza College's Allied Health program produces graduates earning around $33,000—which sounds modest, but here's the real concern: earnings actually drop by year four rather than grow. While the $18,500 debt load is manageable (below the state average), you're essentially paying for training that leads to a career plateau almost immediately. Compare this to CUNY Kingsborough, where similar graduates earn $45,000, or even Orange County Community College at $52,000—both likely charging far less for in-state students.

The program serves a predominantly low-income student population (85% receive Pell grants), and the 40th percentile ranking among New York programs suggests it's performing below average even within the state. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56 means graduates owe more than half their annual salary, which becomes harder to manage when earnings stagnate or decline. Medical assisting roles typically don't require expensive private college tuition to break into.

Given that multiple CUNY and SUNY schools offer stronger outcomes in this field at a fraction of the cost, families should seriously question whether Plaza College's premium is justified. The selectivity (30% admission rate) doesn't translate into better career results. For Allied Health training, the community college route appears to offer significantly better value.