Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at UEI College-Riverside

This UEI College-Riverside program delivers below-average earnings outcomes that should give you pause. With first-year earnings of $24,039, graduates earn about $3,000 less than the national median and nearly $3,000 below California's median for similar programs. While this places the program in the 40th percentile within California—meaning it's roughly average for the state—it ranks in just the 22nd percentile nationally, indicating California as a whole struggles with earnings in this field.

The debt picture is more encouraging. At $9,500, the debt load matches both national and state medians, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40. This means graduates can theoretically pay off their debt in less than five months of gross earnings. The 11% earnings growth over four years is modest but positive, though it still leaves graduates well below what top California programs achieve—some deliver starting salaries exceeding $35,000.

The concerning reality is that even after four years, graduates earn just $26,607, which is barely above poverty level in California's expensive market. While the debt is reasonable, the earning potential severely limits career prospects. Unless your child is passionate about this field and has realistic expectations about the financial constraints, you'd likely see better returns from community college alternatives or exploring higher-paying healthcare programs.