Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at San Juan College

San Juan College's Allied Health program starts graduates at below-average wages for New Mexico but delivers something more valuable: consistent income growth. While first-year earnings of $37,239 trail the state median by $4,000, graduates see a 34% salary jump by year four, reaching nearly $50,000—well above what peers at competing New Mexico programs earn initially. This trajectory suggests graduates are gaining marketable skills that translate into better positions over time.

The debt picture reinforces the program's value. At $17,090, students borrow about $5,000 less than the state average and nearly $3,000 less than the national benchmark. That's meaningful for families in a region where 33% of students receive Pell grants. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 means graduates owe less than half their first-year salary—a manageable burden that only improves as incomes rise.

If your child is willing to start at entry-level medical assistant wages and work their way up, this program offers a low-debt path to solid middle-income earnings. The slower start compared to schools like Pima Medical Institute matters less when you consider graduates pay $5,000 less to get there and end up earning comparable salaries within a few years.