Best institutions to study Medication Aide
A program that prepares individuals to administer prescribed medications; observe and report patient reactions and side effects; and perform related emergency and recording duties under the supervision of nurses and/or physicians.
31 U.S. institutions graduated 780 Medication Aide students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.2603, a specialization of Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies (CIP 51.26), and leads most directly to the Healthcare Support Workers, All Other occupation (BLS SOC 31-9099).
About Medication Aide programs
A program that prepares individuals to administer prescribed medications; observe and report patient reactions and side effects; and perform related emergency and recording duties under the supervision of nurses and/or physicians. Includes instruction in basic anatomy and physiology, common medications and their effects, taking vital signs, oxygen administration, medication administration and application, record-keeping, and patient observation.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Medication Aide program prepares individuals to safely administer prescribed medications and monitor patient reactions under the supervision of healthcare professionals. This program is ideal for those seeking a career in the health professions, particularly in roles that support patient care and medication management.
Students in the Medication Aide program will learn about basic anatomy and physiology, common medications and their effects, vital signs monitoring, and record-keeping. Coursework also includes training in medication administration and patient observation.
Credentials awarded
What Medication Aide graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of less than 12 weeks780 graduates / yr · 31 institutions100%
Graduates over time
Medication Aide completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 785 |
| 2013 | 795 |
| 2014 | 592 |
| 2015 | 566 |
| 2016 | 968 |
| 2017 | 1,110 |
| 2018 | 640 |
| 2019 | 675 |
| 2020 | 660 |
| 2021 | 667 |
| 2022 | 694 |
| 2023 | 679 |
| 2024 | 724 |
| 2025 | 780 |
Top 31 institutions for Medication Aide, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neosho County Community College Chanute, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 103 | 34% | — | — |
| 2 | Salina Area Technical College Salina, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 92 | 68% | — | — |
| 3 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, INPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 88 | 40% | — | $33,802 |
| 4 | Highland Community College Highland, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 47 | 39% | — | — |
| 5 | Hutchinson Community College Hutchinson, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 45 | 53% | — | — |
| 6 | CTK Healthcare & Career Institute Irving, TXPrivate for-profitAward of less than 12 weeks | 40 | 96% | $4,779 | — |
| 7 | Dodge City Community College Dodge City, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 34 | 35% | — | — |
| 8 | Garden City Community College Garden City, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 24 | 50% | — | — |
| 9 | Cloud County Community College Concordia, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 23 | 55% | — | — |
| 10 | Cowley County Community College Arkansas City, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 23 | 45% | — | — |
| 11 | Pratt Community College Pratt, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 22 | 45% | — | — |
| 12 | Barton County Community College Great Bend, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 21 | 33% | — | — |
| 13 | Butler Community College El Dorado, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 21 | 32% | — | — |
| 14 | Allen County Community College Iola, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 20 | 37% | — | — |
| 15 | Washburn Institute of Technology Topeka, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 18 | 68% | — | — |
| 16 | Medical Solutions Academy Danville, VAPrivate for-profitAward of less than 12 weeks | 18 | 94% | — | — |
| 17 | Fort Hays Tech North Central Beloit, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 17 | 78% | — | — |
| 18 | Johnson County Community College Overland Park, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 16 | 31% | — | — |
| 19 | Fort Scott Community College Fort Scott, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 14 | 35% | — | — |
| 20 | Wichita State University - Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology Wichita, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 12 | 43% | — | — |
| 21 | University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College North Little Rock, ARPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 11 | 36% | — | — |
| 22 | Independence Community College Independence, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 11 | 26% | — | — |
| 23 | Texas Health School Houston, TXPrivate for-profitAward of less than 12 weeks | 10 | 84% | $28,968 | — |
| 24 | Flint Hills Technical College Emporia, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 9 | 68% | — | — |
| 25 | Manhattan Area Technical College Manhattan, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 8 | 74% | — | — |
| 26 | Coffeyville Community College Coffeyville, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 7 | 38% | — | — |
| 27 | Seward County Community College Liberal, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 7 | 50% | — | — |
| 28 | Arkansas State University - Newport Newport, ARPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 6 | 46% | — | — |
| 29 | University of Arkansas Community College - Morrilton Morrilton, ARPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 5 | 42% | — | — |
| 30 | Kansas City Kansas Community College Kansas City, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 5 | 42% | — | — |
| 31 | Colby Community College Colby, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 3 | 55% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies field (CIP 51.26) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 5 states
Where Medication Aide graduates come from. Each state links to all Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | 24 | 602 | Neosho County Community College103 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 88 | Ivy Tech Community College88 / yr |
| Texas | 2 | 50 | CTK Healthcare & Career Institute40 / yr |
| Arkansas | 3 | 22 | University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College11 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 18 | Medical Solutions Academy18 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 31-9099, Healthcare Support Workers, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Medication Aide program can pursue careers as Healthcare Support Workers, among other roles. The job outlook is promising, with an expected growth rate of 3.5% and approximately 14,400 annual openings. The median wage for this occupation is $46,050, and a high school diploma or equivalent is typically required.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.2603
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Healthcare Support Workers, All Otherprimary SOC 31-9099 | $48,430 | +3.5% About as fast as average | ~14,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Related careers
Other Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies (CIP 51.26).
- Home Health Aide/CIP 51.2602
Home Attendant 4,307 graduates / yr51 institutions - Health AideCIP 51.2601368 graduates / yr15 institutions
- Rehabilitation AideCIP 51.2604167 graduates / yr10 institutions
- Health Aides/CIP 51.2699
Attendants/ Orderlies partial data39 graduates / yr4 institutions - Physical Therapy Technician/CIP 51.2605
Aide limited data28 graduates / yr1 institutions
Common questions
What is a Medication Aide?+
A Medication Aide is trained to administer medications and monitor patient reactions under supervision.
How long does the program take?+
The program awards a credential in less than 12 weeks.
What kind of jobs can I get after completing this program?+
You can work as a Healthcare Support Worker or in similar roles.
What is the job outlook for Medication Aides?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 3.5%.
What is the CIP code for Medication Aide?+
Medication Aide is CIP 51.2603 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies (CIP 51.26). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to administer prescribed medications; observe and report patient reactions and side effects; and perform related emergency and recording duties under the supervision of nurses and/or physicians. Includes instruction in basic anatomy and physiology, common medications and their effects, taking vital signs, oxygen administration, medication administration and application, record-keeping, and patient observation.
How many institutions offer Medication Aide programs?+
31 U.S. institutions reported Medication Aide graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 5 states, awarding 780 credentials in the year. That is 13.7% of all Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies graduates.
How much do Medication Aide graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Healthcare Support Workers, All Other occupation, which Medication Aide most directly leads to, pays a median of $48,430 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies field report median earnings of $33,802 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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