Minnesota is well-known for its medical contributions and the University of Minnesota conducted the first ever bone marrow transplant and open heart surgery. Minnesota is also home to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, one of the top five urban areas for medical assistant employment. Medical assistants in this area earn nearly $18 an hour and enjoy numerous job opportunities. If you live in Minnesota, you have many medical assistant schools that offer accredited programs leading to everything from certificates to degrees. Students may be able to get tuition assistance through scholarship programs.

Minnesota’s Medical Assisting Employment Environment

There are over 7,000 medical assistants employed in Minnesota, mostly in metropolitan areas. Across the state, the average pay is around $16 an hour, making it considerably higher than the pay of other states in the area. There is a high demand for qualified medical assistants and those who are certified can benefit from membership in the Minnesota Society of Medical Assistants.

The Future of Medical Assisting in Minnesota

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that medical assisting in Minnesota will grow by over 30% in the next decade, opening up a wealth of opportunities for both experienced medical assistants and new graduates. If you live in Minnesota and want to enter the field of medical assisting, there has never been a better time to start.

List of Minnesota’s Medical Assistant Schools

Anthem College

• Program Link: Medical Assistant diploma program; Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting
• Description: Located in St. Louis Park, Anthem College offers a diploma program as well as an associate’s degree program in medical assisting. Anthem also offers an online associate’s degree completion program for those who wish to extend their education beyond the diploma level. All medical assisting programs at Anthem College prepare medical assistants to work in the front office or in patient care in a variety of healthcare providers’ facilities.
• Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
• Programs: diploma; A.A.S.
• Average Program Length: diploma – 12-14 months; A.A.S. – two years
• Tuition:  diploma – $14,495.83; A.A.S. – $27.733
• Clinical Experience: Externship
• Job Placement Rate: diploma – 72%; A.A.S. – 82%
• Fun Fact: Students at Anthem College enjoy a wide range of student services including career counseling and job placement.

Minnesota School of Business

• Program Link: Medical Assistant program
• Description: The Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting degree is available at several campuses across the state. This program provides students with everything they need to perform administrative and clinical duties as well as information on HIPAA regulations, CPR, limited X-ray technology, and more. In addition, the school provides students with help and support every step of the way, right down to help in locating transportation, housing, and child care.
• Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
• Programs:  Associate of Applied Science
• Average Program Length: 21-24 months
• Tuition:  $35,880 – $42,320
• Clinical Experience: Externship
• Job Placement Rate: 73%
• Fun Fact: Minnesota School of Business has campuses across the state for student convenience.

Globe University

• Program Link: Medical Assistant associate’s degree
• Description: Globe University is part of the Globe Education Network, which links a group of colleges, universities, and career schools in order to provide a higher quality of education and enhanced student resources and assistance. The medical assistant program at Globe University prepares students to work as general medical assistants and to sit for credentialing examinations.
• Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
• Programs:  Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting
• Average Program Length: 21 months to two years
• Tuition:  $35,880 – $42,320
• Clinical Experience:  Externship
• Job Placement Rate: 70%
• Fun Fact: Globe University offers a full range of student support services to ensure student success.

Academy College

• Program Link: Medical Assistant program
• Description:  Academy College has been preparing students for careers for over 75 years. The medical assistant certificate program at Academy includes clinical and administrative instruction and prepares students to become Certified Medical Assistants. If you want to become a medical assistant, this program will have you working in under a year so you can start earning soon.
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
• Programs:  certificate
• Average Program Length: less than one year
• Tuition:  $20,300
• Clinical Experience:  Externship
• Job Placement Rate: 85%
• Fun Fact: Graduates of Academy College can audit continuing education classes free of charge for life.

Minneapolis Business College

• Program Link: Medical Assistant program
• Description: Minneapolis Business College is located in Roseville and offers students a choice of a diploma or associate’s degree in medical assisting. Students who get training at this school learn all of the administrative and clinical aspects of medical assisting and are qualified to sit for certification examinations. Students who attend Minneapolis Business College enjoy reasonable tuition rates, full support services, and high job placement rates. If you have been looking for a quality medical assistant education program, this one is definitely worth a second glance.
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
• Programs:  diploma; associate’s degree
• Average Program Length: diploma – 10 months; degree – 16 months
• Tuition:  diploma – $19,100; degree – $30,080
• Clinical Experience:  Externship
• Job Placement Rate: diploma – 83%; degree – 89%
• Fun Fact: Students can utilize residential facilities while attending this program.