Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Rasmussen University-Minnesota

Rasmussen's Allied Health program starts modestly and then moves backward—graduates earn $35,350 in their first year, then see earnings slip to under $33,000 by year four. That 7% decline is troubling, especially when you compare this to Lake Superior College or Northland Community & Technical, where the same degree leads to starting salaries near $43,000. At the 40th percentile among Minnesota programs, this ranks below the state median of $38,417.

The debt picture compounds the problem. At $26,612, Rasmussen graduates carry the highest debt load among Minnesota medical assisting programs—more than double what students at some community colleges take on for better outcomes. The 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic, but it means owing three-quarters of your annual salary while watching your earnings decrease rather than grow. With 51% of students on Pell grants, many families here are taking on substantial risk for below-average results.

Minnesota has strong community college options for medical assisting that deliver higher earnings at lower cost. Unless there are compelling scheduling or location reasons specific to your situation, the combination of above-average debt and below-average outcomes makes this a poor value compared to in-state alternatives.