Best colleges for Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top colleges for Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services by graduate earnings are Carrington College - Pleasant Hill Campus ($61,881), Loma Linda University ($60,043) and College of the Sequoias ($57,242), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Carrington College - Pleasant Hill Campus (Pleasant Hill, CA): $61,881, 179 graduates a year
- Loma Linda University (Loma Linda, CA): $60,043, 47 graduates a year
- College of the Sequoias (Visalia, CA): $57,242, 42 graduates a year
- Carrington College - Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV): $53,596, 80 graduates a year
- CBD College (Los Angeles, CA): $52,829, 104 graduates a year
Compare 1,449 U.S. colleges offering Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 53 states.
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $30,358 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 51.08 and the Medical Assistants occupation (BLS SOC).
About Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services programs
The Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services program prepares students for a variety of roles in the healthcare sector, focusing on diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative services. This program is ideal for individuals seeking to support healthcare professionals and improve patient care through various specialized roles.
Learn more about Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services →
Students in this program will develop essential skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework typically covers topics related to medical terminology, patient care, and administrative procedures, providing a comprehensive foundation for various allied health professions.
Top 25 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carrington College - Pleasant Hill Campus Pleasant Hill, CA Private for-profit · Associate degree | $61,881 | 179 | 59% | $32,161 | $29,755 |
| 2 | Loma Linda University Loma Linda, CA Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $60,043 | 47 | — | — | $16,500 |
| 3 | College of the Sequoias Visalia, CA Public · Associate degree | $57,242 | 42 | 39% | — | $14,000 |
| 4 | Carrington College - Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV Private for-profit · Associate degree | $53,596 | 80 | 59% | $31,028 | $32,458 |
| 5 | CBD College Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $52,829 | 104 | 82% | $20,729 | $20,000 |
| 6 | NorthWest Arkansas Community College Bentonville, AR Public · Associate degree | $52,397 | 294 | 31% | — | — |
| 7 | Oakton College Des Plaines, IL Public · Associate degree | $52,161 | 30 | 37% | — | — |
| 8 | Weatherford College Weatherford, TX Public · Associate degree | $51,083 | 26 | 35% | — | $20,750 |
| 9 | Highline College Des Moines, WA Public · Associate degree | $50,468 | 112 | 35% | — | $7,197 |
| 10 | Stanbridge University Irvine, CA Private for-profit · Associate degree | $50,198 | 65 | 62% | $25,244 | $30,764 |
| 11 | Amarillo College Amarillo, TX Public · Associate degree | $49,025 | 40 | 32% | — | $15,500 |
| 12 | Sacramento City College Sacramento, CA Public · Associate degree | $48,969 | 37 | 33% | — | $15,008 |
| 13 | Harcum College Bryn Mawr, PA Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $48,603 | 21 | 44% | $27,244 | $30,470 |
| 14 | North Seattle College Seattle, WA Public · Certificate | $48,502 | 261 | 33% | — | $16,867 |
| 15 | Hutchinson Community College Hutchinson, KS Public · Associate degree | $48,347 | 151 | 53% | — | $19,500 |
| 16 | Somerset Community College Somerset, KY Public · Associate degree | $46,829 | 43 | 43% | — | — |
| 17 | Elgin Community College Elgin, IL Public · Associate degree | $46,319 | 137 | 41% | — | — |
| 18 | Pennsylvania Western University California, PA Public · Associate degree | $45,668 | 32 | 52% | — | — |
| 19 | Widener University Chester, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $70,817 | 2 | 68% | $29,049 | $26,739 |
| 20 | Dalton State College Dalton, GA Public · Associate degree | $58,734 | 32 | 25% | — | $16,757 |
| 21 | Casa Loma College - Los Angeles Sherman Oaks, CA Private not-for-profit · Associate degree Small program | $56,092 | 17 | 73% | $28,846 | $27,291 |
| 22 | Essex County College Newark, NJ Public · Associate degree | $54,592 | 21 | 20% | — | $25,125 |
| 23 | Louisiana Christian University Pineville, LA Private not-for-profit · Associate degree Small program | $52,843 | 6 | 44% | $16,971 | $14,500 |
| 24 | Orange County Community College Middletown, NY Public · Associate degree | $51,727 | 21 | 25% | — | $12,728 |
| 25 | Kilgore College Kilgore, TX Public · Associate degree Small program | $51,558 | 8 | 39% | — | — |
Specializations within Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
13 of the 14 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 51.08 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Medical/CIP 51.0801
Clinical Assistant 55,276 graduates / yr1,057 institutions52 states - Pharmacy Technician/CIP 51.0805
Assistant 8,060 graduates / yr353 institutions46 states - Physical Therapy AssistantCIP 51.08065,489 graduates / yr360 institutions49 states
- Allied Health and Medical Assisting ServicesCIP 51.08994,386 graduates / yr75 institutions26 states
- Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance)CIP 51.08104,277 graduates / yr79 institutions19 states
- Occupational Therapist AssistantCIP 51.08033,204 graduates / yr213 institutions48 states
- Radiologist AssistantCIP 51.0814partial data1,676 graduates / yr9 institutions6 states
- Clinical/CIP 51.0802
Medical Laboratory Assistant 663 graduates / yr34 institutions23 states - Anesthesiologist AssistantCIP 51.0809497 graduates / yr24 institutions18 states
- Speech-Language Pathology AssistantCIP 51.0816304 graduates / yr21 institutions16 states
- Respiratory Therapy Technician/CIP 51.0812
Assistant 258 graduates / yr19 institutions13 states - Pathology/CIP 51.0811
Pathologist Assistant 178 graduates / yr13 institutions13 states - Lactation ConsultantCIP 51.0815partial data47 graduates / yr4 institutions4 states
Show all 14 codes (1 with no U.S. programs reported)+
- Chiropractic Technician/
Assistant51.0813
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Offered across 53 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 31-9092, Medical Assistants, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services program can pursue careers as medical assistants, pharmacy technicians, or physical therapy assistants, among others. The job outlook is promising, with a projected growth rate of 12.5% and approximately 112,300 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is around $44,200, typically requiring a postsecondary nondegree award.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 51.08.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 51.08 (Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services) maps to 10 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 25-1071 | Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 29-2012 | Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians |
| 29-2052 | Pharmacy Technicians |
| 29-2055 | Surgical Technologists |
| 29-2099 | Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other |
| 31-2011 | Occupational Therapy Assistants |
| 31-2021 | Physical Therapist Assistants |
| 31-9092 | Medical Assistantsprimary |
| 31-9099 | Healthcare Support Workers, All Other |
| 53-3011 | Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height.
- Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies.
- Record patients' medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.
- Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, or physicians' instructions to patients.
- Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean.
- Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing.
Common questions
What careers can I pursue with this program?+
Graduates can work as medical assistants, pharmacy technicians, physical therapy assistants, and more.
What skills will I learn?+
You will learn active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication skills.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 12.5%.
What education is required?+
Typically, a postsecondary nondegree award is required for entry into this field.
How much do Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services graduates earn?+
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $30,358, College Scorecard (2019); the Medical Assistants occupation pays about $46,120 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services?+
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services maps to CIP 51.08 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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