Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Zane State College

Zane State's medical assisting program produces earnings that lag significantly behind both state and national standards—graduates earn about $5,300 less than the typical Ohio program in this field and roughly $6,800 below the national median. Ranking in just the 25th percentile statewide means three-quarters of comparable Ohio programs deliver better outcomes. For context, the top programs in Ohio—including Cincinnati State and multiple Kent State campuses—help graduates earn $41,000 or more, creating a nearly $11,000 annual gap.

The one genuine positive is debt management: at $13,000, graduates carry about 40% less debt than the Ohio median and avoid the burden that weighs down students at many competing schools. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 means borrowers face roughly five months of gross salary in loans—manageable, though the low earnings still make this a monthly strain. Earnings do grow 13% over four years, reaching nearly $34,000, but that still leaves graduates well behind their peers who started at stronger programs.

If your child is committed to medical assisting and determined to stay local, Zane State won't saddle them with crushing debt. But the earnings gap is substantial and persistent—this isn't a case where lower costs offset weaker outcomes. Students with geographic flexibility should seriously compare offers from Cincinnati State or the Kent State system, where higher starting salaries could mean thousands more in lifetime earnings.