Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at St Paul's School of Nursing-Queens

St Paul's School of Nursing starts graduates at just under $30,000, roughly $3,000 below the New York median for medical assisting programs and well behind what community colleges like Orange County CC ($51,727) and Kingsborough ($45,361) deliver. The debt load of $14,736 is relatively manageable, running about $5,500 below the state average, but it still represents half a year's starting salary. What complicates the picture: earnings nearly double by year four to $44,184, suggesting either credential stacking or career progression that takes time to materialize.

This earnings trajectory raises practical questions about cash flow during those early years. While the program eventually catches up to NY's median earnings, graduates face three years of below-average income while potentially servicing loans. The school serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (45%), making that initial earning period particularly challenging for families without financial cushion.

If your child is committed to healthcare and willing to advance their credentials post-graduation, this path can work—the year-four earnings prove that. But recognize they're starting behind peers at CUNY and SUNY schools that offer better immediate earning power with similar or lower debt. The investment pays off eventually, just not quickly.