At $6,526/yr net price, Pima Medical Institute-East Valley graduates earn $38,673/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $4,673/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $6,526 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $26,104 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $38,673/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$4,673/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 5.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 69.7% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $9,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $6,483/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $6,759/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $6,759/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Certificate | $27,140 | $8,890 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions. | Certificate | $26,254 | $3,166 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Certificate | $25,277 | $8,707 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. | Certificate | $25,194 | $8,894 |
The Risk Factor
69.7% of students at Pima Medical Institute-East Valley graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 30% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Pima Medical Institute-East Valley keeps costs low and debt lower, which is the core of its financial case. You pay about $6,500 a year and leave with a median debt of $9,500, well below the price of a single year at most private schools. The 69.70% graduation rate means most of you finish, so you are not paying for credits that lead nowhere.
The catch is on the earnings side. Ten years out, median pay sits at $38,673. That is a real return against $9,500 in debt, but it is not a path to high income. Every top program here is a certificate, not a degree, so treat these as short vocational credentials that get you into a job fast, not stepping stones to a big salary. Among the certificates, medical assisting leads on pay, while clinical lab science stands out because it pairs solid earnings with only about $3,000 in debt. Practical nursing and health administration cluster near the bottom on pay while carrying close to $9,000 in debt, so the debt-to-payoff math is tighter there.
The main risk is that these are for-profit certificates in a narrow set of healthcare support roles. Your earnings ceiling is low, and the credentials are specialized to Arizona's medical field, so your return depends on staying in that job market.
This school fits you if you want to enter a healthcare job quickly with minimal debt and are fine with modest pay. Look elsewhere if you want a degree or earnings above the high $30,000s. Net price barely moves across income levels, from $6,483 under $30k to $6,759 higher up, so families at every income pay roughly the same here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pima Medical Institute-East Valley worth the cost?
With a low net price of $6,526 per year and median debt of only $9,500, Pima Medical Institute-East Valley offers reasonable value for healthcare training. However, graduates earn just $38,673 ten years after enrollment, which is below average for many career-focused programs.
What programs at Pima Medical Institute-East Valley have the best ROI?
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services offers the highest starting salaries at $27,140, followed by Clinical Laboratory Science at $26,254. All programs start in the mid-$20,000 range, which matches the school's focus on entry-level healthcare positions.
How much debt do Pima Medical Institute-East Valley graduates have?
The median debt is $9,500, which is relatively low for a career college. The low annual cost of $6,526 helps keep debt manageable, though graduates should expect modest starting salaries in the healthcare support field.
What is the graduation rate at Pima Medical Institute-East Valley?
About 70% of students graduate, which is decent for a career-focused program. The school serves students looking for quick entry into healthcare jobs rather than high-paying careers.