Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Raritan Valley Community College

Similar allied health programs in New Jersey suggest first-year earnings around $37,800—right at the state median but well below what graduates from Essex County College ($54,600) or Rutgers-New Brunswick ($50,500) are seeing. That's a $13,000 to $17,000 gap that's worth understanding. The estimated $25,100 in debt sits higher than both the New Jersey median ($18,300) and national median ($19,800) for these programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67—not catastrophic, but tighter than it should be for an associate's degree.

The challenge here is that comparable New Jersey programs show enormous variation in outcomes. Some graduates are clearing $50,000 in their first year while others barely reach $36,000. Location matters in allied health—working near medical hubs versus suburban practices can mean different salaries entirely. Without actual data from Raritan Valley's specific graduates, you're relying on what peer programs typically produce, which may or may not reflect this school's employer connections or clinical placement sites.

For parents evaluating this investment: the estimated debt level should prompt serious conversations about financing options and keeping borrowing below $20,000 if possible. Ask the college directly about job placement rates, which employers hire their graduates, and typical starting salaries for their specific completers—not statewide estimates. That information will tell you whether this program tracks closer to the $35,000 outcome or the $50,000 one.