Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Ross Medical Education Center-Brighton

Ross Medical Education Center's Allied Health program places graduates near the middle of Michigan options but below national standards, with first-year earnings of $31,888 trailing the national median by about $5,000. Among Michigan's 26 programs, this ranks solidly at the 40th percentile—serviceable but unremarkable. The real concern isn't the starting salary but the ceiling: while earnings do grow to $34,234 by year four, graduates at top Michigan programs like Muskegon Community College are earning nearly double that amount in similar roles.

The debt load tells a more complicated story. At $15,608, it's lower than both state and national medians, which keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio reasonable at 0.49. However, this represents the 75th percentile nationally for debt—meaning most similar programs nationally manage to charge less while delivering better outcomes. With 72% of students receiving Pell grants, this is clearly serving a population that needs strong ROI.

The practical calculation here is whether $34,000 in earnings four years out provides enough financial stability. For a predominantly low-income student body, that answer depends heavily on local cost of living and career goals. If your child is set on medical assisting, exploring the community college alternatives that deliver similar or better outcomes at comparable costs would be prudent before committing.