Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at York Technical College

York Technical College's Allied Health certificate comes with manageable debt—just $7,680—but the earnings picture reveals a troubling pattern. Graduates earn $27,977 in their first year, but by year four, that figure actually drops to $26,691. While this tracks roughly with South Carolina's median for this program, it's worth noting that several other South Carolina technical colleges place graduates $4,000-5,000 higher: Spartanburg Community College and Midlands Technical College both exceed $31,000 in median earnings.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27 looks reasonable on paper, but context matters. That $7,680 debt burden ranks in the 89th percentile nationally—meaning most comparable programs carry more debt—yet students at top-performing SC schools manage similar or better earnings despite higher typical debt loads. The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly with more data, but the downward earnings trajectory deserves attention regardless.

For families seeking medical assisting training in the Rock Hill area, this program won't saddle students with crushing debt, which matters for a field with modest earnings potential. However, if your child can access programs at Spartanburg or Midlands Technical—even with slightly higher debt—the earnings premium of $4,000+ annually could justify the difference. This certificate works as a low-risk entry point, but it's not the strongest performer among South Carolina's technical college options.