Medical Assisting at Northern Essex Community College

Haverhill, MA · Public · Certificate · Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services

a compact campus enrolling 3,350 students in Haverhill, MA.

Program Analysis

At $38,885 per year, Medical Assisting graduates from Northern Essex Community College earn slightly above the $31,622 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

With a 74.3x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 4% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Medical Assisting career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

The median debt load of $5,600 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

At #89 of 1,065 programs, this Medical Assisting program outperforms the majority of its peers. The top 10% ranking reflects consistently above-average outcomes.

The limited growth from $38,885 to $41,894 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

The 11 apprenticeship pathways connected to Medical Assisting reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

70 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
67
Low End
70
Score
71
High End
Earnings $38,885/yr (23% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (252,100 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$423K
1.9% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
74.4x
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 (In-State)
$5,688
Out-of-state: $11,472
Median Debt at Graduation
$5,600
1.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$41,894
8% 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

See the full career breakdown for Medical Assisting — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Northern Essex Community College and 1064 other schools.

Read the full Medical Assisting career guide →

Compare & Explore

Medical Assisting Overview

Medical Assisting at Other Schools

Other Majors at Northern Essex Community College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Northern Essex Community College's Medical Assisting program score?
This program scores 70/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Medical Assisting nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, hands-on AI resilience, and solid financial return.
How affordable is Medical Assisting at Northern Essex Community College?
Median debt of just $5,600 against $38,885/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Are there apprenticeship options for Medical Assisting?
Yes — 11 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Medical Assisting career paths, including Ambulance Attendant (Emt). Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at Northern Essex Community College.
Is there demand for Medical Assisting workers?
The career paths mapped to Medical Assisting have roughly 252,100 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →