Medical Assisting at Southern Maine Community College

South Portland, ME · Public · Associate Degree · Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services

enrolling 5,279 students in South Portland, ME.

Program Analysis

Graduates of Southern Maine Community College's Medical Assisting program earn $40,964/yr in their first year — 30% above the $31,622 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 56.4x 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 $12,000 in median debt against $40,964 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #126 of 1,065 nationally, this is a top-5% Medical Assisting program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

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

68 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
66
Low End
68
Score
69
High End
Earnings $40,964/yr (30% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (252,100 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings
$41K
Reported median after graduation
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
56.4x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
9 of 9
Occupations with strong AI resilience
Program Tuition (In-State)
$7,594
Out-of-state: $13,354
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,000
3.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$40,057
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

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

What can you do with a Medical Assisting credential from Southern Maine Community College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Medical Assisting career guide →

Compare & Explore

Medical Assisting Overview

Medical Assisting at Other Schools

Other Majors at Southern Maine Community College

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 68/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Medical Assisting at Southern Maine Community College?
A score of 68/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Medical Assisting field.
What's the typical debt for Medical Assisting graduates from Southern Maine Community College?
Median debt of just $12,000 against $40,964/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 4 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Is Southern Maine Community College one of the best schools for Medical Assisting?
Among 1,065 Medical Assisting programs, Southern Maine Community College's #126 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
Can I learn Medical Assisting through an apprenticeship instead of Southern Maine Community College?
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 Southern Maine Community College.
What's the job market like for Medical Assisting from Southern Maine Community College?
The very large job market (252,100 annual openings) works in favor of Medical Assisting graduates. The national outlook is driven by an aging population and expanding healthcare access, though regional variation matters.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →