Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Stark State College

Stark State's Allied Health and Medical Assisting program produces graduates earning $28,616 in their first year—significantly below both Ohio's state median ($35,365) and the national average ($36,862). Among Ohio's 53 programs in this field, Stark State ranks in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of comparable state programs deliver better outcomes. The gap is substantial: graduates from Cincinnati State's program, for example, earn nearly $13,000 more annually.

The earnings trajectory shows improvement, with a 22% increase to $34,841 by year four, which helps close some of that initial gap. However, even with this growth, graduates remain below what many peers earn right out of the gate. The debt load of $20,364 is manageable relative to first-year earnings (0.71 ratio), but the real question is opportunity cost—other Ohio programs prepare students for the same careers while delivering markedly higher starting salaries.

For parents whose children are committed to medical assisting, this program offers affordable training with reasonable debt. But if your student has options among Ohio's allied health programs, the data suggests looking elsewhere. Schools in the Kent State system and Cincinnati State consistently place graduates in higher-paying positions from day one, which compounds significantly over a career.