by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,449 U.S. colleges awarded 84,315 degrees and certificates in Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services. Certificates are the most popular award, at 50% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1,105 schools in its 2027 Best Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $27,519 one year after completing, rising to $35,634 after four years.
Doctors have many patients and work to provide medical services to people whenever necessary. With a degree in Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, you will be able to aid doctors to ensure all patients receive proper and timely treatment.
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services professionals help doctors by aiding with administrational and clinical tasks. They perform exams, give injections, and schedule appointments. In order to gain the skills to properly aid medical professionals, students take classes in medical software, terminology, procedures, office administration, and pharmacology.
There are many types of medical professions that require an assistant. Some of the areas of specialization available to students include Clinical Assistant, Medical Laboratory Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Physical Therapy Assistant, Veterinary Technology, Anesthesiologist Assistant, Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance), Pathology Assistant, Respiratory Therapy Technician, and Radiologist Assistant among others.
A major in Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services explores Allied Health And Medical Assisting Services.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, allied health & medical assisting services is a popular field of study, with 84,315 degrees awarded annually. 1,449 colleges award allied health & medical assisting services degrees, an average of 58 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 3,390.
By level, the 84,315 awards include 42,176 certificates, 14,983 associate degrees, 1,122 bachelor’s degrees and 20,255 master’s degrees.
Women earned 86% of allied health & medical assisting services degrees and certificates in the latest year (72,371 of 84,315). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are Hispanic or Latino (29,941) and White (24,608), and international students earned 390.
College Factual ranks 1,105 schools in its 2027 Best Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services Schools ranking, including 452 for associate degrees, 14 for bachelor’s degrees and 21 for master’s degrees. It also ranks allied health & medical assisting services schools within 50 states. In all, 1,449 colleges offer allied health & medical assisting services programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common allied health & medical assisting services credential is the certificate: 42,176 of the 84,315 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to allied health & medical assisting services call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Customer and Personal Service and Medicine and Dentistry, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Near Vision.
Medical assistants not only work with doctors, but closely with patients, as well. This means students should have strong communication and interpersonal skills to make patients feel comfortable and relay important information to physicians. Analytical skills and close attention to detail help professionals read medical charts and make diagnoses based on symptoms and tests.
A degree in Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services leads to a full time job at a variety of medical centers. Assistants may work in offices or clinics that are open during normal business hours, while others assist doctors at 24/7 facilities, such as hospitals.
While no formal education is required to become an Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services professional, some students decide to pursue a degree from a community college or vocational school. Others learn skills from on the job training.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an allied health & medical assisting services degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 42,176 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 14,983 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,122 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 20,255 |
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to allied health & medical assisting services, at 21.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 21.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 20.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 19.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 12.9% |
| Some college courses | 8.8% |
| Master’s degree | 8.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 3.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.3% |
| First professional degree | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
16 occupations are related to Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services, with an average median salary of $72,706; the strongest outlook belongs to Speech-Language Pathology Assistants, at 14.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Medical Technologist, Optometric Assistant, Polysomnographic Technologist and Drug Coordinator.
Since there are so many medical professions, Allied health and Medical Assisting Services graduates work in a variety of locations. Some locations are specialized doctors' offices, health clinics, and hospitals. It is predicted that the need for medical assistants will continue to grow, allowing doctors to care for more patients during the day.
The occupation related to allied health & medical assisting services with the most projected jobs is Patient Representatives, at 3,368,169.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Patient Representatives | 3,368,169 | 4.8% |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | 3,206,816 | 12.2% |
| Histology Technicians | 2,948,902 | -0.2% |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 2,908,248 | 9.4% |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 2,546,481 | 1.6% |
| Neurodiagnostic Technologists | 1,852,560 | 14.1% |
| Surgical Technologists | 1,820,366 | -3.0% |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | 1,554,194 | 14.1% |
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services graduates earn a median $27,519 one year after completing their program, $35,634 after four years and $32,689 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $27,519 |
| 4 years | $35,634 |
| 5 years | $32,689 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to allied health & medical assisting services is Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians, with a median salary of $155,908.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians | $155,908 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $153,940 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | $153,819 |
| Neurodiagnostic Technologists | $81,316 |
| Histology Technicians | $80,721 |
| Surgical Technologists | $73,045 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $72,773 |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | $64,291 |
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services includes 13 concentrations that together award 84,315 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Medical/Clinical Assistant (55,276), Pharmacy Technician/Assistant (8,060) and Physical Therapy Assistant (5,489). It has 30 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 953,145 degrees a year; the largest are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (318,053), Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (110,132) and Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (98,474). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
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