by our College Data Analytics Team
[Medical/Clinical Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-medical-assisting-services/medical-clinical-assistant/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 29 schools to find the best return on investment for medical/clinical assistant students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in medical/clinical assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Clover Park Technical College tops our 2026 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools in Washington. Located in the city of Lakewood, Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,634. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $14,405. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $43,425. That is a strong return on a $14,405 median debt.
Bates Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in medical/clinical assistant, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Tacoma, Bates Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,027, while out-of-state students pay about $12,165. Median earnings reach $50,051 ten years out.
A rank of #3 makes Renton Technical College one of the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Renton Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Renton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,330, compared with $7,768 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,582 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Renton Technical College generally make around $80,411. That is a strong return on a $18,582 median debt.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in medical/clinical assistant, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,997 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,062. Students borrow a median of $20,335 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $45,385. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Peninsula College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools. Set in the town of Port Angeles, Peninsula College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,718, while out-of-state students pay about $5,270. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $12,730 in student loans. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Peninsula College earn a median of $51,243 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,730 median debt.
Skagit Valley College landed the #6 spot for medical/clinical assistant value this year. Set in the city of Mount Vernon, Skagit Valley College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,400, compared with $7,410 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,056 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Skagit Valley College generally make around $43,072. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Seattle Community College Central Campus placed #7 among the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle Community College Central Campus is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,238, with out-of-state students paying around $5,796. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $14,699 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Seattle Community College Central Campus generally make around $53,048. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Spokane Community College landed the #8 spot for medical/clinical assistant value this year. Located in the city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,461 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $20,637. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Spokane Community College earn a median of $35,998 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Olympic College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools. Olympic College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bremerton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,472, while out-of-state students pay about $9,740. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $11,497 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Olympic College generally make around $41,886. That is a strong return on a $11,497 median debt.
Centralia College earned the #10 position for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Centralia College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Centralia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,266, compared with $5,651 for out-of-state students. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $77,740.
Columbia Basin College came in at #11 for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Located in the suburb of Pasco, Columbia Basin College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,555 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,668 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $17,170. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Columbia Basin College earn a median of $63,976 early in their careers. Set against $17,170 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Seattle Community College North Campus earned the #12 position for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Seattle Community College North Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Seattle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,238, with out-of-state students paying around $5,796. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $16,867 in student loans. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $48,739. Set against $16,867 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Puget Sound Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools. Set in the city of Olympia, South Puget Sound Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,257 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,818. Students borrow a median of $14,245 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of South Puget Sound Community College earn a median of $35,815 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,245 median debt.
Whatcom Community College came in at #14 for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Whatcom Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Bellingham. In-state tuition and fees average $5,296, compared with $11,435 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,660 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Whatcom Community College generally make around $44,573. Set against $19,660 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Clark College placed #15 among the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Located in the city of Vancouver, Clark College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,233, with out-of-state students paying around $11,183. Students borrow a median of $11,634 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Clark College generally make around $41,100. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Everett Community College came in at #16 for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Located in the city of Everett, Everett Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,032, with out-of-state students paying around $11,171. Students borrow a median of $13,542 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Everett Community College earn a median of $47,441 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,542 median debt.
Wenatchee Valley College earned the #17 position for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Set in the city of Wenatchee, Wenatchee Valley College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,552, with out-of-state students paying around $5,054. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $9,626 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Wenatchee Valley College generally make around $38,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Highline Community College placed #18 among the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Highline Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Des Moines. Students from in state pay about $4,772 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,332. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $7,197. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $50,468. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Perry Technical Institute placed #19 among the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Perry Technical Institute is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Yakima. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $7,892 in student loans. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $37,096. Set against $7,892 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pima Medical Institute Seattle earned the #20 position for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Pima Medical Institute Seattle is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $18,375. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Pima Medical Institute Seattle generally make around $38,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pima Medical Institute Renton ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools. Located in the city of Renton, Pima Medical Institute Renton is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $18,375 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Pima Medical Institute Renton earn a median of $38,045 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Uei College Tacoma ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools. Located in the city of Tacoma, Uei College Tacoma is a small private for-profit university. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $30,848.
Carrington College Spokane ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools. Set in the city of Spokane, Carrington College Spokane is a small private for-profit institution. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $38,395. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.