2027 Best Value Medical/Clinical Assistant Schools in the The Plains States Region
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 43 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools.
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2027 Best Value Medical/Clinical Assistant Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the medical/clinical assistant degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Medical/Clinical Assistant Schools
Leading the list is Central Community College, our #1 best value for medical/clinical assistant in the The Plains States Region. Central Community College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Island. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,360, compared with $4,800 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $16,250. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Central Community College generally make around $37,307. That is a strong return on a $16,250 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Metropolitan Community College Area one of the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,375, with out-of-state students paying around $4,950. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $12,799. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Area generally make around $45,583. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at St Charles Community College earned it the #3 place for medical/clinical assistant. Set in the suburb of Cottleville, St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,810, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $12,606. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $47,228. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in medical/clinical assistant will find it at Garden City Community College, which ranked #4. Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Garden City. In-state tuition and fees average $3,690, while out-of-state students pay about $4,320. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $11,084. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Garden City Community College earn a median of $35,476 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
State Fair Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools. Located in the town of Sedalia, State Fair Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,176, with out-of-state students paying around $7,416. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $15,328. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $39,168. Set against $15,328 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Community College earned the #6 position for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Norfolk. Students from in state pay about $3,840 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,130. Students borrow a median of $13,416 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $40,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Iowa Tech Community College landed the #7 spot for medical/clinical assistant value this year. Set in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,186 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,330. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College generally make around $37,483. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southeast Community College Area placed #8 among the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Located in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,444, with out-of-state students paying around $4,032. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $14,964. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Southeast Community College Area generally make around $37,325. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Riverland Community College landed the #9 spot for medical/clinical assistant value this year. Located in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,297 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,732 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Riverland Community College earn a median of $49,194 early in their careers. Set against $15,732 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Crowder College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools. Crowder College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Neosho. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,104, with out-of-state students paying around $5,784. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $14,719 in student loans. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Crowder College earn a median of $33,436 early in their careers. Set against $14,719 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Iowa Central Community College placed #11 among the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Set in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,496 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,788. Students borrow a median of $15,560 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $34,281. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Barton County Community College placed #12 among the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Set in the rural area of Great Bend, Barton County Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,680, with out-of-state students paying around $4,960. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $14,792. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Barton County Community College generally make around $44,536. That is a strong return on a $14,792 median debt.
Kirkwood Community College came in at #13 for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,176, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $18,616 in student loans. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $33,912. That is a strong return on a $18,616 median debt.
Hawkeye Community College landed the #14 spot for medical/clinical assistant value this year. Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waterloo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,525, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,716 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $39,614. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hennepin Technical College placed #15 among the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,940. Students borrow a median of $17,887 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $37,273. Set against $17,887 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Iowa Area Community College came in at #16 for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Located in the rural area of Mason City, North Iowa Area Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,653, compared with $9,551 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $17,000. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from North Iowa Area Community College generally make around $44,455. Set against $17,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Neosho County Community College landed the #17 spot for medical/clinical assistant value this year. Set in the town of Chanute, Neosho County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,704. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $13,209. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $44,672. Set against $13,209 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Century College placed #18 among the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,214. Students borrow a median of $22,921 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $40,253. That is a strong return on a $22,921 median debt.
Highland Community College Highland earned the #19 position for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Set in the rural area of Highland, Highland Community College Highland is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,495. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Highland Community College Highland generally make around $22,909. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ridgewater College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools. Set in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,121. Students borrow a median of $15,556 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $42,178. That is a strong return on a $15,556 median debt.
Southeastern Community College West Burlington came in at #21 for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Located in the town of West Burlington, Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,420 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,570. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $14,296 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Southeastern Community College West Burlington generally make around $36,202. That is a strong return on a $14,296 median debt.
Northwest Kansas Technical College came in at #22 for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Northwest Kansas Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Goodland. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $41,638.
Mitchell Technical Institute landed the #23 spot for medical/clinical assistant value this year. Mitchell Technical Institute is a small public school located in the town of Mitchell. Students from in state pay about $7,524 in tuition and fees. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $35,074. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Dakota County Technical College landed the #24 spot for medical/clinical assistant value this year. Located in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,679. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $13,474 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Dakota County Technical College generally make around $40,180. That is a strong return on a $13,474 median debt.
North Central Missouri College earned the #25 position for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Set in the town of Trenton, North Central Missouri College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,370, with out-of-state students paying around $8,820. Students borrow a median of $16,685 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $40,934. That is a strong return on a $16,685 median debt.
Rest of the Top 43 Best Value Medical/Clinical Assistant Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for medical/clinical assistant this year:
Narrow Medical/Clinical Assistant Schools by State
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 43 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 43 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
