Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Summit College

Summit College's medical assisting program delivers below-average earnings despite modest debt, with graduates earning just $23,181 in their first year—placing them in the 15th percentile nationally but closer to the middle among California programs. The 40th percentile state ranking reveals something important: medical assisting is a particularly competitive field in California, where the top programs produce graduates earning $40,000 or more, nearly double what Summit graduates make. That said, at $8,444 in debt, students here are borrowing less than typical for this credential, keeping the debt burden manageable at just four months of income.

The 13% earnings growth to $26,207 by year four suggests some stability, though graduates still trail both the state and national medians even after four years of experience. For context, California's median for this program is $26,897, which Summit students approach but don't quite reach. With over half of students receiving Pell grants, this program appears to serve working-class families who need low-cost entry to healthcare work, but those families should understand they're trading affordability for earning potential.

The practical reality: this certificate gets you into medical assisting work without crushing debt, but it won't provide the income that better California programs deliver. If your child can access one of the top-performing community colleges offering this credential—like Cabrillo College or Charles A Jones—they'd earn significantly more with similar or lower debt.