Medical Assisting at Fortis Institute-Birmingham

Birmingham, AL · Private for-profit · Certificate · Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services

with a smaller student body of 339 in Birmingham, AL.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $25,556/yr fall 19% below the $31,622 national median for Medical Assisting. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 22.0x 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 17% gap from the optimistic case.

At $9,500 in median debt against $25,556 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #932 of 1,065 Medical Assisting programs, Fortis Institute-Birmingham falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $25,556 to $31,185 over five years — a 22% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

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

49 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
44
Low End
49
Score
49
High End
Earnings $25,556/yr (-19% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (252,100 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$323K
5.1% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
22.2x
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
$14,561
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,500
4.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$31,185
22% 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

Medical Assisting at Other Schools

Other Majors at Fortis Institute-Birmingham

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 49/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Medical Assisting at Fortis Institute-Birmingham?
A score of 49/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Medical Assisting. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
Is Fortis Institute-Birmingham a good choice for Medical Assisting despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Fortis Institute-Birmingham's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Medical Assisting graduates?
If Fortis Institute-Birmingham's tuition gives you pause, consider that 11 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Medical Assisting. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
What's the job market like for Medical Assisting from Fortis Institute-Birmingham?
At 252,100 annual openings, Medical Assisting has a very large employment base. Fortis Institute-Birmingham graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →