Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Southern Careers Institute-San Antonio

This Allied Health program at Southern Careers Institute delivers concerning financial outcomes that should give any parent pause. With median first-year earnings of just $21,645, graduates earn significantly less than both the national average ($27,186) and Texas state average ($24,563) for similar programs. The program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of comparable programs nationwide produce better earnings outcomes.

The debt picture provides the only silver lining. At $9,500, student debt aligns with national and state medians for this field, creating a reasonable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44. However, this modest debt load doesn't offset the program's fundamental earnings problem. Even four years after graduation, median earnings barely improve to $23,143—still well below what graduates from top Texas programs like Houston Community College ($35,469) or Lone Star College System ($33,233) earn in their first year.

The bottom line: your child could attend a community college program in Texas and potentially earn $10,000+ more annually right out of school. While the debt burden here is manageable, the opportunity cost of choosing this lower-performing program over readily available alternatives is substantial. Consider the stronger-performing options in Houston or other Texas markets before committing to this path.