Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Rochester Community and Technical College

This certificate faces a puzzling earnings trajectory: initial first-year pay around $40,000—matching what most allied health programs in Minnesota produce—somehow drops to $34,861 by year four. That backward slide is unusual in healthcare fields and raises questions about whether graduates transition into lower-paying positions or face employment challenges over time.

The estimated debt of $18,755 sits above Minnesota's typical $17,378 for these programs and nearly double the national median of $9,500. That burden becomes more concerning given the earnings decline. Even at the stronger first-year figure, you're looking at roughly five months of gross income devoted to debt—manageable in healthcare terms—but the drop by year four tightens that picture considerably. Programs at Anoka Tech and Century College show similar starting pay with presumably less debt risk.

Given these estimates from peer programs and the unusual earnings pattern, this certificate requires careful vetting. Talk directly to the program about job placement specifics, why the four-year figure might lag behind (whether it reflects part-time work, career changes, or data quirks), and what actual graduates from this campus are experiencing. The debt-to-earnings ratio works at entry level, but that reversal demands explanation before committing nearly $19,000.