Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus

The small sample size here is a real limitation, but the numbers tell a striking story about Puerto Rico's distinct healthcare labor market. While this program's $18,120 first-year earnings place it in just the 5th percentile nationally—far below the U.S. median of $36,862—it ranks in the 80th percentile among Puerto Rico programs, where the median is only $12,093. This is actually one of the top-performing medical assisting programs on the island, nearly matching the highest earner at sister campus Carolina ($18,554).

The debt picture requires careful interpretation. At $11,542, graduates carry more than double the Puerto Rico median of $4,950 and land in the 95th percentile nationally for debt burden. However, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 means graduates owe roughly eight months of salary—manageable if they stay in Puerto Rico's healthcare field, where these credentials hold value. The real risk is if economic circumstances push graduates to seek work on the mainland, where their earnings would need to more than double to match national standards while carrying island-level debt.

For families committed to staying in Puerto Rico, this program appears to be among the better local options for entering healthcare support roles. For those considering eventual mainland migration, the earnings gap becomes a serious concern that debt forgiveness programs or additional credentials would need to address.