Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Walla Walla Community College

This medical assisting certificate punches well above its weight class nationally, with first-year earnings of $38,894 landing in the 95th percentile—nearly $12,000 above what most programs deliver. The $14,875 in typical debt is higher than state and national averages, but with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38, graduates should be able to manage payments relatively comfortably in that first year.

The challenge here is what happens next. Earnings drop 12% by year four, falling to $34,284—a pattern that suggests either wage stagnation in local medical assisting roles or graduates moving into lower-paying positions. Within Washington state, this program sits at the 60th percentile, meaning there are stronger options available (North Seattle College and Wenatchee Valley both show higher earnings), though Walla Walla still outperforms half the state's programs.

The small sample size here matters—with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these numbers could shift significantly with a larger cohort. But if this reflects the typical path, you're looking at solid immediate employment prospects offset by limited wage growth. For students planning to stay in the Walla Walla area where cost of living is lower, this could work. Those with access to programs in Seattle or Wenatchee should compare carefully, as those show $10,000+ higher earnings without corresponding career decline.