Medical Assistant: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Medical Assistant programs equip students with the essential knowledge and hands-on skills needed to support healthcare providers in clinical and administrative settings. Graduates are prepared to perform a wide range of duties under physician supervision, contributing directly to efficient patient care and office operations.
- Basic Anatomy and Physiology: Core understanding of human body systems, structures, and functions to support accurate patient assessment and clinical tasks.
- Medical Terminology: Mastery of specialized language used in healthcare to ensure precise communication across medical records, procedures, and team interactions.
- Medical Law and Ethics: Study of legal standards, patient rights, confidentiality protocols, and ethical decision-making in clinical environments.
- Patient Psychology and Communications: Development of interpersonal skills to effectively engage with diverse patients, manage anxiety, and foster trust during medical visits.
- Medical Office Procedures: Training in scheduling, recordkeeping, billing, insurance processing, and other administrative functions vital to clinic efficiency.
- Clinical Diagnostic and Treatment Support: Practical instruction in performing routine tests, assisting during examinations, collecting specimens, and administering medications and first aid safely.
Medical Assistant Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Medical Assistant Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Medical Assistant degrees, including Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary and Medical Assistants. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 1,023,180 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1071 | $105,620 | $51,760 - $239,200 | 229,720 | N/A |
| Medical Assistants 31-9092 | $44,200 | $35,020 - $57,830 | 793,460 | $21.25 |
Medical Assistant Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $48,455 in Hawaii to $107,990 in Arkansas—a 123% difference. The highest-paying states include Arkansas, District of Columbia, and Washington. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,023,180 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Medical Assistant by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 99 institutions offering Medical Assistant programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Medical Assistant is found at South Florida Institute of Technology (SFIT) (1,211 graduates), The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP), Northwest (847 graduates), NUC University (NUC) (795 graduates), Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) (788 graduates), and Unitek College (631 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 24,696 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Florida Institute of Technology (SFIT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1,211 | Miami, Florida | Private | sf-institute.com |
| The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
847 | Houston, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| NUC University (NUC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
795 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | nuc.edu |
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Residency
|
788 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| Unitek College |
Other Award
|
631 | Fremont, California | Private | unitekcollege.edu |
| Charter College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
450 | Anchorage, Alaska | Private | chartercollege.edu |
| Northwest Career College (NCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
415 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Private | northwestcareercollege.edu |
| Mildred Elley |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
390 | New York, New York | Private | mildred-elley.edu |
| Bryan University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
368 | Tempe, Arizona | Private | bryanuniversity.edu |
| American Career College (ACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
359 | Los Angeles, California | Private | americancareercollege.edu |
| The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
356 | Fort Worth, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| UEI College (UEI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
349 | Fresno, California | Private | uei.edu |
| Southern Technical College (STC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
339 | Orlando, Florida | Private | southerntech.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
338 | Riverside, California | Private | uei.edu |
| UEI College (UEI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
335 | Huntington Park, California | Private | uei.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
329 | Chula Vista, California | Private | uei.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
322 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | uei.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
296 | Memphis, Tennessee | Private | concorde.edu |
| Delta Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
294 | Horn Lake, Mississippi | Private | deltatechnicalcollege.com |
| FVI School of Nursing and Technology |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
294 | Miami, Florida | Private | fvi.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Other Award
|
291 | San Diego, California | Private | concorde.edu |
| United Education Institute (UEI College) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
291 | Morrow, Georgia | Private | uei.edu |
| Keiser University |
Associate's
|
287 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | keiseruniversity.edu |
| Hunter Business School |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
284 | Levittown, New York | Private | hunterbusinessschool.edu |
| Ross College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
281 | Sylvania, Ohio | Private | rosseducation.edu |
| Carrington College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
278 | Sacramento, California | Private | carrington.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
276 | Bakersfield, California | Private | uei.edu |
| College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
273 | Houston, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| ECPI University (ECPI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
264 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | ecpi.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
261 | Houston, Texas | Private | pmi.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
256 | Ontario, California | Private | uei.edu |
| The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
256 | Houston, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
251 | Visalia, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
251 | Austin, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
250 | Stockton, California | Private | uei.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Other Award
|
242 | Portland, Oregon | Private | concorde.edu |
| Allen School |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
235 | Brooklyn, New York | Private | allenschool.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Other Award
|
234 | Grand Prairie, Texas | Private | concorde.edu |
| The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
232 | Dallas, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| Santa Ana College (SAC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
229 | Santa Ana, California | Public | sac.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
229 | Sacramento, California | Private | uei.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
228 | Garden Grove, California | Private | uei.edu |
| American Career College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
222 | Anaheim, California | Private | americancareercollege.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Other Award
|
215 | San Bernardino, California | Private | concorde.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
211 | Gardena, California | Private | uei.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
206 | Reseda, California | Private | uei.edu |
| Contra Costa Medical Career College (CCMCC) |
Residency
Other Award
|
202 | Antioch, California | Private | ccmcc.edu |
| Lincoln College of Technology |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
196 | Melrose Park, Illinois | Private | lincolntech.edu |
| New Age Training (NAT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
196 | New York, New York | Private | newagetraining.com |
| Concorde Career College |
Other Award
|
192 | Dallas, Texas | Private | concorde.edu |
| The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
189 | McAllen, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| Southern Technical College (STC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
184 | Fort Myers, Florida | Private | southerntech.edu |
| Garden State Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
183 | Jersey City, New Jersey | Private | gssti.edu |
| American Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
182 | CLIFTON, New Jersey | Private | americaninstitute.edu |
| Herzing University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
181 | Madison, Wisconsin | Private | herzing.edu |
| PCI Health Training Center (PCI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
180 | Dallas, Texas | Private | pcihealth.edu |
| National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
180 | Denver, Colorado | Private | nimaa.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
178 | Denver, Colorado | Private | pmi.edu |
| Porter & Chester Institute (PCI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
175 | Bridgeport, Connecticut | Private | porterchester.edu |
| United Education Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
175 | Stone Mountain, Georgia | Private | uei.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
174 | West Covina, California | Private | uei.edu |
| High Desert Medical College (HDMC) |
Other Award
|
174 | Lancaster, California | Private | hdmc.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
171 | Tucson, Arizona | Private | pmi.edu |
| Downey Adult School (DAS) |
Other Award
|
171 | Downey, California | Public | das.edu |
| United Education Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
171 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Private | uei.edu |
| Martinsburg College (MC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
169 | Martinsburg, West Virginia | Private | martinsburgcollege.edu |
| Universal Healthcare Careers College (UHCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
164 | Los Angeles, California | Private | uhcc.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
163 | Salida, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| American Career College (ACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
163 | Ontario, California | Private | americancareercollege.edu |
| Fortis College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
162 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Private | fortis.edu |
| Ross College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
162 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Private | rosseducation.edu |
| Southern Careers Institute (SCI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
161 | Pharr, Texas | Private | scitexas.edu |
| South Texas Training Center |
Other Award
|
159 | Pharr, Texas | Private | southtexastraining.com |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
158 | Tacoma, Washington | Private | uei.edu |
| Wichita Technical Institute (WTI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
157 | Wichita, Kansas | Private | wti.edu |
| Miller-Motte College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
156 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Private | miller-motte.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
156 | Southaven, Mississippi | Private | concorde.edu |
| Florida Education Institute (FEI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
155 | Miami, Florida | Private | fei.edu |
| Arizona College |
Other Award
|
155 | Glendale, Arizona | Private | arizonacollege.edu |
| Carrington College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
153 | San Jose, California | Private | carrington.edu |
| Mayfield College |
Other Award
|
153 | Cathedral City, California | Private | mayfieldcollege.edu |
| Fortis College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
150 | Landover, Maryland | Private | fortis.edu |
| Front Range Community College (FRCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
Other Award
|
149 | Westminster, Colorado | Public | frontrange.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
147 | Renton, Washington | Private | pmi.edu |
| The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
147 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
146 | El Paso, Texas | Private | pmi.edu |
| MTI College (MTI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
143 | Sacramento, California | Private | campus.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Other Award
|
142 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | concorde.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Other Award
|
140 | Aurora, Colorado | Private | concorde.edu |
| Tulsa Technology Center (Tulsa Tech) |
Other Award
|
139 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Public | tulsatech.edu |
| Carrington College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
138 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | carrington.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
138 | Oceanside, California | Private | uei.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
137 | Chula Vista, California | Private | pmi.edu |
| River Parishes Community College (RPCC) |
Other Award
|
137 | Gonzales, Louisiana | Public | rpcc.edu |
| Lincoln Technical Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
135 | Lincoln, Rhode Island | Private | lincolntech.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Other Award
|
134 | Garden Grove, California | Private | concorde.edu |
| Carrington College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
134 | San Leandro, California | Private | carrington.edu |
| Allen School |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
133 | Jamaica, New York | Private | allenschool.edu |
| North-West College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
133 | Riverside, California | Private | north-westcollege.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Medical Assistant programs
How much can I earn with a Medical Assistant degree?
Salaries for Medical Assistant graduates vary by role and location. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $105,620 annually, while Medical Assistants earn around $44,200. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Arkansas average $107,990 compared to $48,455 in Hawaii. Approximately 1,023,180 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Medical Assistant programs?
Currently 1,064 accredited institutions offer Medical Assistant degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include South Florida Institute of Technology (SFIT) (1,211 graduates), The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP), Northwest (847 graduates), and NUC University (NUC) (795 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Medical Assistant growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 121,663 in 2010 to 52,819 in 2023-24. This represents a 57% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Medical Assistant degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, Medical Assistants, . Related occupations employ approximately 1,023,180 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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