Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Western Technical College

Western Technical College's medical assisting program significantly outperforms most Wisconsin alternatives while keeping debt remarkably low. At $43,682 first-year, graduates earn nearly $10,000 more than the state median and rank in the 80th percentile among Wisconsin programs. More importantly, the $13,500 typical debt is less than half what students borrow at other Wisconsin schools offering this degree, where median debt hits $23,187. That 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can realistically handle payments while building financial stability.

The program does show a slight earnings dip by year four, dropping to $42,049. This likely reflects the reality of medical assisting roles rather than program quality—these positions tend to reach their earning ceiling quickly. However, starting nearly $7,000 above the national median for this field means graduates begin with a meaningful advantage that persists even as earnings plateau.

For families weighing technical college options in Wisconsin, this program delivers strong results without the debt burden that often accompanies healthcare training. Only two technical colleges in the state produce higher earners in this field, and both likely come with steeper price tags. The combination of above-average earnings and below-average debt makes this a practical choice for students seeking stable healthcare employment without gambling on four-year degree costs.