Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Southwestern Illinois College

Similar allied health programs across Illinois suggest first-year earnings around $40,000—a solid return for an associate's degree that would leave graduates owing about $17,000. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 is manageable by any standard, translating to monthly payments well under 10% of take-home pay. The challenge is what happens next: reported four-year earnings at this program drop to $32,000, which is unusual and worth understanding.

That earnings dip could reflect graduates moving into part-time work, shifting to non-clinical roles, or leaving the field entirely. It's also possible the small sample size that triggered data suppression is creating statistical noise. Either way, it suggests the career trajectory may not follow the steady upward climb parents typically hope for. Compare this to programs at Oakton or South Suburban, where graduates are earning $46,000-$52,000 in early years—significantly more for similar credentials.

The relatively low debt makes this less risky than many healthcare programs, but your child should have a specific job target in mind before enrolling. Medical assisting and allied health is a broad category covering everything from phlebotomy to surgical tech roles, and career outcomes vary widely. If they're drawn to a particular specialty within this umbrella, confirm that Southwestern's program actually trains for it and check what local employers are hiring for—and at what pay.