Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Ross College-Davenport

Ross College-Davenport's medical assisting program delivers concerning results that should give parents pause. While the $27,186 starting salary matches the national median, it significantly underperforms within Iowa, ranking in just the 25th percentile among the state's 18 programs. More troubling, earnings actually decline by 4% from year one to year four, suggesting limited career advancement potential—a pattern uncommon in healthcare fields.

The debt picture compounds these concerns. Although the $9,500 debt load appears manageable at first glance, Iowa's other programs typically saddle students with $13,485 in debt while delivering substantially higher earnings. Community colleges like Des Moines Area ($38,511) and Southeastern ($36,202) provide nearly 40% higher starting salaries, creating a much stronger return on investment. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35 isn't catastrophic, but it's less attractive when considering the limited earning potential.

For Iowa families, this program represents a poor value proposition in a competitive state market. The combination of below-average state earnings, declining income trajectory, and better alternatives at community colleges makes this difficult to recommend. Parents should strongly consider the community college options that offer both higher earnings and often more affordable tuition for in-state residents.