Medical Assisting at Riverside College of Health Careers

Newport News, VA · Private nonprofit · Associate Degree · Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services

Admission to Riverside College of Health Careers is competitive, with 17% of applicants accepted, with a smaller student body of 325 in Newport News, VA.

Program Analysis

Graduates of Riverside College of Health Careers's Medical Assisting program earn $47,742/yr in their first year — 51% above the $31,622 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 16.8x 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.

At $18,369 in median debt against $47,742 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #340 of 1,065 Medical Assisting programs, Riverside College of Health Careers scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $47,902 are relatively flat compared to the $47,742 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.

60 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
57
Low End
60
Score
61
High End
Earnings $47,742/yr (51% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (252,100 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$499K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
16.8x
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
$29,750
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,369
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$47,902
0% 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 Riverside College of Health Careers

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 60/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Medical Assisting at Riverside College of Health Careers?
This program scores 60/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Medical Assisting graduates.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Medical Assisting program at Riverside College of Health Careers?
Beyond Riverside College of Health Careers's classroom route, 11 registered apprenticeships map to Medical Assisting careers — including Ambulance Attendant (Emt). Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
How many job openings are there for Medical Assisting graduates?
Job availability for Medical Assisting is strong — 252,100 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Riverside College of Health Careers graduates specifically, local market conditions in VA may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →