Medical Assisting at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

Asheville, NC · Public · Associate Degree · Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services

a smaller institution with 4,909 students in Asheville, NC.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $33,274 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College come in 5% above the national median of $31,622 for Medical Assisting programs.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 60.4x 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.

Median debt of $21,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $33,274 starting salary — a manageable burden by trade school standards.

At #236 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.

64 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
62
Low End
64
Score
65
High End
Earnings $33,274/yr (5% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (252,100 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings
$33K
Reported median after graduation
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
60.4x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
9 of 9
Occupations with strong AI resilience
Program Tuition (In-State)
$5,764
Out-of-state: $18,052
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,000
7.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$31,352
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

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 Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College's Medical Assisting program score?
A score of 64/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Medical Assisting field.
Why does Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College rank so high for Medical Assisting?
Ranked #236 of 1,065 programs nationally, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Are there apprenticeship options for Medical Assisting?
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 Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.
How many job openings are there for Medical Assisting graduates?
At 252,100 annual openings, Medical Assisting has a very large employment base. Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →