Medical Assisting at CUNY LaGuardia Community College

Long Island City, NY · Public · Associate Degree · Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services

with a mid-sized student body of 10,556 in Long Island City, NY.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $40,463 put CUNY LaGuardia Community College's Medical Assisting program 28% above the national median of $31,622 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 48.5x 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 17% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $40,463 far exceeding the $8,049 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #184 of 1,065 nationally, this is a top-5% Medical Assisting program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $40,463 to $49,226 over five years — a 22% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

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

66 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
62
Low End
66
Score
66
High End
Earnings $40,463/yr (28% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (252,100 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$509K
5.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
48.8x
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 (In-State)
$10,436
Out-of-state: $16,196
Median Debt at Graduation
$8,049
2.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,226
22% 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 CUNY LaGuardia 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 CUNY LaGuardia Community College's Medical Assisting program score?
A score of 66/100 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 CUNY LaGuardia Community College?
Median debt of just $8,049 against $40,463/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Why does CUNY LaGuardia Community College rank so high for Medical Assisting?
Among 1,065 Medical Assisting programs, CUNY LaGuardia Community College's #184 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Medical Assisting program at CUNY LaGuardia Community College?
If CUNY LaGuardia Community College's tuition gives you pause, consider that 11 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Medical Assisting. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
What's the job market like for Medical Assisting from CUNY LaGuardia 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 →