Skip to main content

Cheapest Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Colleges

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

Santa Ana College stands out with the nation's lowest net cost for Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services programs at just $3,854 annually, making quality healthcare education accessible in California's competitive medical market. This field trains students for critical support roles in hospitals, clinics, and medical offices, where demand continues growing as healthcare facilities expand across the country. The $10,099 gap between the cheapest program and the most expensive at Lewis-Clark State College ($12,832) reflects significant regional cost variations rather than quality differences. Public institutions dominate the affordable options, with eight of the ten cheapest programs offered by state colleges. Graduation rates vary considerably, from Ohio State Lima's 18.1% to University of Connecticut Waterbury's 59.5%, suggesting that cost alone shouldn't drive program selection. Healthcare employers value hands-on training and certification completion over institutional prestige, making these affordable programs viable pathways to stable careers in medical support services.
50
Programs
$3,854 – $26,084
Net Price Range
$33,805
Avg. Program Earnings
48.7%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $3,854 $1,180 31.5%
2 $5,200 $3,906 48.0%
3 $6,206 $4,057 37.3%
4 $6,392 $5,966 36.7%
5 $6,680 $5,966 41.7%
6 $7,131 $4,656 55.1% 95.6%
7 $7,559 $6,920 31.1%
8 $8,365 $7,050 35.5% 57.7%
9 $8,896 $17,462 59.5% 97.9%
10 $10,722 $6,391 43.0%
11 $10,878 $4,623 38.6%
12 $10,988 $10,986 46.2% 87.5%
13 $11,504 $17,462 56.7% 97.4%
14 $12,458 $9,212 18.1%
15 $12,832 $7,388 44.7% 86.8%
16 $13,339 $17,452 65.4% 97.3%
17 $13,710 $29,982 68.2% 77.5%
18 $13,780 $7,566 28.9% 65.3%
19 $13,922 $4,432 25.6% 99.7%
20 $13,953 $7,392 25.4%
21 $13,980 $28,670 31.0% 78.2%
22 $14,059 $17,472 56.9% 92.2%
23 $14,773 $14,297 56.5% 75.3%
24 $14,774 $6,960 100.0%
25 $14,817 $12,900 25.8%
26 $14,867 $18,008 75.0% 33.3%
27 $14,989 $16,480 69.1% 71.8%
28 $15,026 $25,200 40.0% 51.4%
29 $15,156 $15,672 65.0% 34.4%
30 $15,389 $9,622 43.0%
31 $15,928 $15,168 75.0% 56.1%
32 $16,874 $19,740 41.3% 74.6%
33 $17,182 $17,935 36.7%
34 $17,185 $29,778 51.1% 65.0%
35 $17,324 $8,356 38.3%
36 $17,797 $15,690 51.3% 84.8%
37 $17,949 $35,942 40.2% 71.9%
38 $18,292 $12,859 87.7% 52.7%
39 $19,045 $35,500 53.8% 51.0%
40 $19,889 $14,130 76.2% 79.1%
41 $20,351 $30,050 44.4% 75.3%
42 $22,051 44.9%
43 $22,086 $16,065 60.0%
44 $22,886 $20,366 83.8% 54.5%
45 $23,629 $16,088 28.1%
46 $24,229 $40,270 43.2% 64.9%
47 $24,334 $25,590 51.4% 65.8%
48 $25,022 $36,078 74.3% 64.9%
49 $25,477 $27,140 52.5% 97.9%
50 $26,084 $17,940 50.4%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Santa Ana College's program cost only $3,854 compared to other schools?

Santa Ana College benefits from California's community college funding model and serves a large local population, allowing economies of scale. The in-state tuition of just $1,180 keeps base costs low, while the college maintains strong partnerships with Orange County healthcare facilities. Students can complete medical assisting certification while paying significantly less than at four-year institutions. The program's proximity to major medical centers also reduces travel costs for clinical rotations.

How do graduation rates compare between the cheapest programs?

Graduation rates among affordable programs range from 18.1% at Ohio State Lima to 59.5% at University of Connecticut Waterbury, showing wide variation. Brigham Young University-Idaho achieves 55.1% despite charging only $7,131 net cost. Cossatot Community College in Arkansas maintains a solid 48% graduation rate at $5,200 net cost. These differences often reflect student demographics and support services rather than program quality alone.

Is there a significant earning difference between cheap and expensive programs?

The available earnings data shows graduates from University of Connecticut campuses earning $32,162, while Ohio State Lima graduates start at $30,988, despite different program costs. These figures fall within the typical $30,988 to $47,650 range for allied health graduates nationally. Employer focus on certification and clinical skills means graduates from affordable programs can achieve similar starting salaries as those from expensive institutions. Geographic location often influences earnings more than the college's net cost.

Does program type affect costs significantly in this field?

Public colleges clearly dominate the affordable options, with institutions like Spokane Community College ($6,206) and Louisiana State Alexandria ($8,365) offering competitive pricing. Private nonprofit schools like Caribbean University locations charge $6,392 to $6,680, remaining competitive with public options. The debt levels for private programs average $7,125, which stays manageable compared to other healthcare fields. Community colleges often provide the best value by focusing specifically on job-ready skills rather than general education requirements.

Where do these affordable programs have the strongest job market connections?

California programs like Santa Ana College benefit from the state's large healthcare industry and aging population driving demand. Arkansas and Louisiana schools serve rural areas with critical shortages of medical support staff. Washington state programs connect students to major hospital systems in Seattle and Spokane metropolitan areas. These regional connections often matter more than program rankings, as local healthcare employers frequently recruit directly from nearby affordable programs.

More Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Rankings

Best Value Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Under $20,000

Related

All Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Programs All College Rankings Highest-Paying Majors 2026

Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.