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Medical Assisting at Fortis College-Columbia

Columbia, SC · Private for-profit · Certificate · Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services

with a smaller student body of 513 in Columbia, SC.

Program Analysis

Fortis College-Columbia's Medical Assisting program produces graduates earning $27,198/yr — within striking distance of the $31,622 national average for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 22.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Medical Assisting programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Medical Assisting's career paths, with 28% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 14% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $9,500 in median debt clears fast against $27,198 in annual earnings.

Ranked #882 of 1,065 Medical Assisting programs, Fortis College-Columbia falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $32,202 are relatively flat compared to the $27,198 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

Medical Assisting offers 11 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

50 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
46
Low End
50
Score
51
High End
Earnings $27,198/yr (-14% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (252,100 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$331K
4.3% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
22.7x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
9 of 9
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition
$14,576
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,500
4.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$32,202
18% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Medical Assisting graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620 +17.3% 52%
Occupational therapy assistants $68,340 +19.2% 73%
Physical therapist assistants $65,510 +22.0% 85%
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
$105,620
+17.3% growth 52% AI-proof
Occupational therapy assistants
$68,340
+19.2% growth 73% AI-proof
Physical therapist assistants
$65,510
+22.0% growth 85% AI-proof

View all 9 career paths with full salary data →

Medical Assisting Career Guide

Explore what Medical Assisting graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 1065 programs nationwide.

Read the full Medical Assisting career guide →

Compare & Explore

Medical Assisting Overview

View all 1065 schools offering Medical Assisting →

Medical Assisting at Other Schools

Widener University ($61,990) Carrington College-Sacramento ($61,881) Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus ($61,881) Loma Linda University ($60,043) Concorde Career College-Garden Grove ($59,559) Institute of Technology ($59,548) Dalton State College ($58,734) Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts ($58,718)

Other Majors at Fortis College-Columbia

Nursing ($69,200) HVAC Technology ($35,785) Health Administration ($29,157) Dental Assisting ($24,564)

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Compare Medical Assisting degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Medical Assisting at Fortis College-Columbia?
This program scores 50/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Medical Assisting programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Are there apprenticeship options for Medical Assisting?
There are 11 registered apprenticeships connected to Medical Assisting occupations, such as Ambulance Attendant (Emt) and Health Care Sanitary Technician. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Will Medical Assisting graduates from Fortis College-Columbia find jobs?
Job availability for Medical Assisting is strong — 252,100 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Fortis College-Columbia graduates specifically, local market conditions in SC may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →