Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus

Is an associate degree in allied health worth $25,000 in debt when first-year earnings hover around $38,000? Based on comparable programs across New Jersey, that's the calculation facing families considering Rowan College's program. The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67 means graduates would owe roughly eight months of their first year's salary—manageable compared to many healthcare fields, but not exceptional either.

The challenge is that similar programs in New Jersey produce wildly different outcomes. Essex County College graduates earn $54,000 in their first year, while others cluster closer to the state median of $38,000. Without program-specific data from Rowan, you're essentially betting that this program performs near the state average rather than at the lower or upper end of that range. The debt estimate, derived from just three comparable institutions in New Jersey, carries similar uncertainty—actual borrowing could run higher or lower.

Here's what matters: even at the median outcome, graduates should be able to manage the debt burden within a few years. But if you're choosing between allied health programs in New Jersey, the $15,000+ earnings gap between top performers and average ones represents real money. Before committing, get specific placement data from Rowan—where do their graduates actually work, and what do local employers pay entry-level positions?