2 accredited schools across the Santa Cruz metro area trained 79 medical assistants in 2023–24. Here’s how they compare on cost, length and size, plus what the job pays locally.
Updated October 2026 · Data: IPEDS 2023–24, BLS May 2025
Sorted by number of 2023–24 graduates (IPEDS), a proxy for program size and stability.
Public two-year college in Aptos that reported 53 Medical Assistant graduates in 2023–24. Annual in-district tuition (before fees): $1,104 ($9,744 out of state).
This private nonprofit career school in Santa Cruz County graduated 26 Medical Assistant students in 2023–24. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $15,249 for a program of about 8 months.
2 accredited schools in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area graduated 79 Medical Assistant students in 2023–24. The largest was Cabrillo College with 53.
Among schools that published a program price, CET-Watsonville in Watsonville listed the lowest total: $15,249 for tuition, books and supplies.
Medical Assistants in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro earn a median $50,090 a year ($24.08/hour), per BLS May 2025 data. That compares with $49,660 statewide and $45,690 nationally.
Certificate and diploma programs commonly run about 9 to 12 months; associate degrees take about 2 years.