Medical Assisting at Whatcom Community College

Bellingham, WA · Public · Associate Degree · Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services

with a smaller student body of 2,280 in Bellingham, WA.

Program Analysis

At $44,573 per year, Medical Assisting graduates from Whatcom Community College significantly outpace the $31,622 national average for this trade, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 45.3x 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 #159 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.

67 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
65
Low End
67
Score
67
High End
Earnings $44,573/yr (41% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (252,100 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings
$45K
Reported median after graduation
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
45.3x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
9 of 9
Occupations with strong AI resilience
Program Tuition (In-State)
$10,292
Out-of-state: $22,192
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$42,998
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 Whatcom 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 Whatcom 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

What does a 67/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Medical Assisting at Whatcom Community College?
At 67/100, Whatcom Community College's Medical Assisting program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
What makes Whatcom Community College's Medical Assisting program stand out?
Ranked #159 of 1,065 programs nationally, Whatcom Community College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Medical Assisting program at Whatcom Community College?
Beyond Whatcom Community College'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.
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 →