Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia

Medical assistants graduating from San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia are earning roughly half what the typical California graduate makes in this field—$27,132 versus the state median of $48,908. That 10th percentile ranking among California programs is particularly concerning for families paying in-state tuition with the expectation of competitive outcomes. While the $19,000 debt load matches the state average and looks manageable on paper, it becomes less attractive when paired with these below-market earnings.

The gap isn't just significant compared to top California programs like Carrington College ($61,881)—this program also trails the national median by nearly $10,000. Even after four years in the workforce, graduates here earn $29,751, still well below where most medical assistants start elsewhere in California. With nearly half of students receiving Pell grants, these modest earnings could strain families who can least afford a weak return on investment.

For California families, this program's combination of bottom-decile state earnings and average debt makes it difficult to justify when stronger alternatives exist throughout the state. Medical assisting can be a solid entry point into healthcare, but this particular program isn't delivering the earnings needed to make it work financially for most students.