Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Wichita Technical Institute

With three-quarters of students receiving Pell grants, Wichita Technical Institute serves a population that needs every dollar to count—which makes this program's below-average outcomes particularly concerning. Graduates earn about $26,000 annually, roughly $3,500 less than peers at other Kansas medical assisting programs and $1,100 below the national average. That's real money for working families, especially when nearby WellSpring School of Allied Health delivers earnings 15% higher for the same credential.

The debt picture offers the program's only bright spot: at $13,000, it sits well below the national median and ties the Kansas average. That 0.50 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates devote about six months of gross income to repaying loans—manageable, though hardly a triumph given the low earnings base. More troubling is the virtual flatline in income growth, with earnings rising just $200 over four years. Medical assistants typically see modest wage growth, but this stagnation suggests graduates may be stuck in entry-level positions or facing local market constraints.

For families considering this path, understand that medical assisting credentials do lead to stable employment, but this particular program underperforms both state and national alternatives. If staying in Wichita is essential, explore whether WellSpring or other area programs might deliver better returns. Otherwise, these earnings place graduates near the poverty line for a family of three—a difficult foundation for building financial security.