Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Shawnee Community College

Similar allied health programs across Illinois suggest first-year earnings around $40,000—right at the state median but notably behind community colleges like Oakton ($52,000) and South Suburban ($46,500). With an estimated debt load of roughly $16,700, this program appears positioned as a lower-cost entry into the field, coming in below both the state and national typical debt loads. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 falls within manageable territory, meaning graduates would owe less than half their expected first-year salary.

The challenge here is understanding why some Illinois programs produce significantly higher earnings. Location matters enormously in allied health—medical assistants in Chicago suburbs often earn substantially more than those in rural southern Illinois. If your child plans to work near Ullin after graduation, these earnings might be realistic. But if they're willing to relocate to a metro area, attending a program closer to those job markets might both increase earnings and improve employment connections.

For families watching costs carefully, this program offers a relatively affordable path into healthcare. But given the wide earnings variation among Illinois schools—some producing 30% higher outcomes—it's worth understanding whether the lower debt here compensates for potentially lower earning power, or whether your child would benefit from targeting programs with stronger regional employer networks.