Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Spokane Falls Community College

Spokane Falls produces stronger-than-average graduates in Allied Health and Medical Assisting, but there's a wrinkle parents need to understand. First-year earnings of $47,797 place graduates in the 90th percentile nationally—well above the $36,862 national median and solidly competitive within Washington's relatively strong market for this field. At $21,000 in debt, students carry a manageable burden that represents less than half of first-year earnings.

The concern is what happens next: earnings drop to $43,444 by year four, a 9% decline that's unusual for healthcare fields. This could reflect graduates moving between employment types, shifting to part-time work, or the nature of medical assisting roles in the Spokane market. It's worth noting that even with this decline, year-four earnings still exceed the national average, and the program outperforms most Washington schools except those in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area, where higher living costs accompany higher wages.

For parents evaluating this path, the first year's strong earnings make the debt quite manageable, and graduates enter the workforce at competitive salaries. The earnings dip warrants a conversation with your student about career trajectory—understanding whether medical assisting is a stepping stone to further healthcare credentials or a sustainable long-term career in the Spokane region.