Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Purdue University Global

The estimated $13,857 in debt sits well below what similar programs typically require—roughly $3,000 less than other Indiana allied health programs and nearly $6,000 below the national median. That's meaningful for a field where first-year earnings hover around $36,000, though it's worth noting that the four-year earnings figure of $30,887 suggests this program may not follow a traditional upward trajectory.

Here's the tension: comparable programs in Indiana show a wide earnings spread, from $35,000 to over $50,000 annually. Purdue University Global's online delivery format serves a largely non-traditional student population (48% receive Pell grants), which may explain both the lower debt burden and the flat earnings pattern between years one and four. Medical assisting roles often have capped wages regardless of experience, so the earnings consistency isn't necessarily alarming—but it does mean graduates shouldn't expect significant salary growth over time.

The 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio based on peer program data suggests manageable loan payments, likely under $150 monthly. For students who need flexibility and can't relocate to higher-paying markets, this represents a practical entry point into healthcare. However, if your child has the option to attend programs like University of Indianapolis or Vincennes, which report substantially higher graduate earnings, those might deliver better long-term value even with potentially higher upfront costs.