Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at South Puget Sound Community College

Similar Allied Health programs at Washington community colleges typically produce first-year earnings around $43,000, but graduates from this program start closer to $36,000—notably below both the state median and what nearby schools like Tacoma Community College ($58,000) and Highline College ($50,000) are achieving. The estimated debt of $18,220, based on comparable Washington programs, isn't unusually high at just over half the first-year salary. Still, that debt loads carries different weight when earnings lag so far behind peer programs in the same state.

The minimal earnings growth—just $1,500 over four years—compounds the challenge. Allied Health can offer stable employment, but without much salary progression and starting from a lower baseline, the financial runway looks constrained. It's worth noting these figures come from similar programs rather than this specific cohort, so individual outcomes could vary. However, the consistent pattern of stronger earnings at other Washington community colleges teaching the same credential suggests a genuine regional difference worth investigating.

Before committing, contact the school directly to understand their job placement specifics and why their graduates' outcomes might differ from programs just an hour north in Tacoma. If clinical partnerships, employer networks, or specialization focus explain the gap, that context matters—but if not, comparable programs elsewhere in Washington appear to deliver better returns on the same time and debt investment.