Medical Assisting at Plaza College

Forest Hills, NY · Private for-profit · Associate Degree · Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services

Plaza College accepts 30% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, with a smaller student body of 829 in Forest Hills, NY.

Program Analysis

At $32,837/yr, Medical Assisting graduates from Plaza College land near the $31,622 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 11.1x 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 0% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $16,591 represents roughly 6 months of the $32,837 starting salary — a manageable burden by trade school standards.

Ranked #766 of 1,065 Medical Assisting programs, Plaza College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $33,411 are relatively flat compared to the $32,837 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.

51 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
47
Low End
51
Score
52
High End
Earnings $32,837/yr (4% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (252,100 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$344K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
11.1x
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
$30,900
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,591
6.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$33,411
2% 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

Medical Assisting opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Medical Assisting career guide →

Compare & Explore

Medical Assisting Overview

Medical Assisting at Other Schools

Other Majors at Plaza 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

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Medical Assisting at Plaza College?
A score of 51/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Plaza College trails the majority of Medical Assisting programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Medical Assisting graduates?
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 Plaza College find jobs?
With approximately 252,100 annual openings across mapped careers, Medical Assisting offers a very large employment pool. Plaza College graduates enter a market shaped by an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →