by our College Data Analytics Team
[Medical/Clinical Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-medical-assisting-services/medical-clinical-assistant/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 130 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes 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.
Gateway Community College Central City earned the #1 spot for value among medical/clinical assistant schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Phoenix, Gateway Community College Central City is a small public institution. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $15,037. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $31,636. Set against $15,037 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes South Texas College one of the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $10,378 in student loans. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $32,084 early in their careers. Set against $10,378 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Del Mar College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools. Del Mar College is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,500, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $7,000 in student loans. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $42,057. Set against $7,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in medical/clinical assistant will find it at El Paso Community College, which ranked #4. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. Students from in state pay about $3,274 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $29,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Mainland earned it the #5 place for medical/clinical assistant. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,310, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $10,928. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from College Of The Mainland generally make around $26,157. Set against $10,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central New Mexico Community College placed #6 among the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $10,112 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $34,751. Set against $10,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Centro College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Students borrow a median of $14,557 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $27,898. That is a strong return on a $14,557 median debt.
Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus landed the #8 spot for medical/clinical assistant value this year. Located in the town of Roswell, Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,256, with out-of-state students paying around $5,616. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $11,110. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus earn a median of $21,129 early in their careers. Set against $11,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
New Mexico State University Dona Ana earned the #9 position for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Set in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,322, compared with $6,360 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,284 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of New Mexico State University Dona Ana earn a median of $39,399 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,284 median debt.
Mclennan Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools. Located in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,660 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,910 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $11,500. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Mclennan Community College generally make around $40,499. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tarrant County College District placed #11 among the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,863, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Students borrow a median of $15,148 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $45,158. That is a strong return on a $15,148 median debt.
Oklahoma City Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools. Oklahoma City Community College is a large public school located in the city of Oklahoma City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,059, while out-of-state students pay about $9,810. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $17,648. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Oklahoma City Community College generally make around $29,838. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Amarillo College landed the #13 spot for medical/clinical assistant value this year. Set in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,136, while out-of-state students pay about $4,704. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $49,025. Set against $15,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Laredo Community College came in at #14 for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Located in the city of Laredo, Laredo Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,300, with out-of-state students paying around $5,748. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $32,392. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Arizona College placed #15 among the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Coolidge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,250, compared with $4,500 for out-of-state students. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $11,635 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Central Arizona College generally make around $48,826. Set against $11,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Houston Community College placed #16 among the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $2,040, with out-of-state students paying around $5,460. Students borrow a median of $20,299 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $38,964. That is a strong return on a $20,299 median debt.
San Jacinto Community College landed the #17 spot for medical/clinical assistant value this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,490 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $14,938. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $40,933. That is a strong return on a $14,938 median debt.
Vernon College placed #18 among the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Set in the town of Vernon, Vernon College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,720, while out-of-state students pay about $6,120. Students borrow a median of $12,513 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Vernon College generally make around $45,097. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cochise College landed the #19 spot for medical/clinical assistant value this year. Set in the city of Sierra Vista, Cochise College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,280, with out-of-state students paying around $6,120. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $12,013 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Cochise College generally make around $40,712. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lone Star College System landed the #20 spot for medical/clinical assistant value this year. Located in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,664, with out-of-state students paying around $7,512. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $11,553 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Lone Star College System generally make around $35,884. That is a strong return on a $11,553 median debt.
Meridian Technology Center ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools. Set in the town of Stillwater, Meridian Technology Center is a small public institution. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Meridian Technology Center earn a median of $61,765 early in their careers.
Northeast Texas Community College came in at #22 for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Northeast Texas Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mount Pleasant. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,980, while out-of-state students pay about $5,620. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $13,500. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Northeast Texas Community College earn a median of $39,170 early in their careers. Set against $13,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mohave Community College landed the #23 spot for medical/clinical assistant value this year. Set in the rural area of Kingman, Mohave Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,208 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,968. Students borrow a median of $14,766 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Mohave Community College earn a median of $41,797 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,766 median debt.
Francis Tuttle Technology Center came in at #24 for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Francis Tuttle Technology Center is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Oklahoma City. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $14,859. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Francis Tuttle Technology Center generally make around $26,570. Set against $14,859 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Panola College came in at #25 for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Panola College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Carthage. Students from in state pay about $2,352 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,232. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $36,072.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in medical/clinical assistant:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 130 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.