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

This Ross Medical Education Center program delivers exactly average results nationally but performs better than most Michigan competitors, placing in the 60th percentile statewide. With median earnings of $27,186 one year after graduation and debt of just $9,500, the financial picture looks manageable initially—your child would owe roughly 4 months of salary, which is quite reasonable for career training.

However, there's a significant red flag: earnings actually decline by 4% from year one to year four, dropping to $26,021. This "early peak" pattern is concerning because most careers show wage growth over time. While the program costs less and pays comparably to state rivals like Grand Rapids Community College initially, those competitors likely offer better long-term earning potential. The top Michigan programs in this field pay $7,000-$8,000 more annually.

The bottom line: this program gets your child employed quickly at a decent starting wage with minimal debt, but the career trajectory appears limited. If your child needs to enter the workforce fast and values low debt over long-term earning potential, this works. But if they can invest more time and money upfront, community college alternatives like Montcalm or Grand Rapids offer significantly better earning potential that would compound over a career.