Freeport, Illinois

Highland Community College Medical Assistant Programs

CertificateAssociate degreePublicCAAHEP-accredited

What Medical Assistant Programs Does Highland Community College Offer?

Highland Community College in Freeport, Illinois offers 2 medical assisting programs (certificate and associate degree). Medical Assistant Certificate is CAAHEP-accredited, so graduates are eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam. Programs run 43 weeks.

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2 Medical Assistant Programs at Highland Community College

Highland Community College's Programs Side by Side

ProgramCredentialFormatLengthExternshipCost
Medical Assistant Certificate, Highland Community CollegeCertificate43 weeks$163per credit, 2026-27
Medical Assistant Associate of Applied Science Degree, Highland Community CollegeAssociate degreeIncluded$163per credit, 2026-27

Blank cells: the school's pages don't give that figure.

Medical Assistant Certificate: The Details

Length
10 months
Hours or credits
32 hours
Certification
Eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam
Tuition (school's wording)
$163 per credit hour tuition for in-district students; $275 per credit hour out-of-district and out-of-state2026-27. Source: highland.edu, reviewed October 12, 2026.

Medical Assistant Certificate at Highland Community College: full program profileHighland Community College certificate page on highland.edu ↗

Medical Assistant Associate of Applied Science Degree: The Details

Hours or credits
60 hours
Externship
Practicum
Certification
Eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam
Tuition (school's wording)
$163 per credit hour tuition for in-district students; $275 per credit hour out-of-district and out-of-state2026-27. Source: highland.edu, reviewed October 12, 2026.

Medical Assistant Associate of Applied Science Degree at Highland Community College: full program profileHighland Community College associate degree page on highland.edu ↗

From Highland Community College's own program, admissions and tuition pages, reviewed October 12, 2026. Tuition changes each year; confirm fees with the school.

How Highland Community College Compares

  • Medical Assistant Certificate runs 43 weeks; the median for certificate programs is 39 weeks.

Medical assistants in Illinois earn a median of $46,090 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), against $45,690 nationally.

Is Highland Community College's Medical Assistant Program Accredited?

Yes. Medical Assistant Certificate is listed by CAAHEP (directory captured October 12, 2026). Accredited by CAAHEP on the recommendation of MAERB (CAAHEP directory, October 12, 2026), so graduates meet the standard education route for the CMA (AAMA) exam.

The accreditor's listing covers Medical Assistant Certificate; Medical Assistant Associate of Applied Science Degree is a different credential and isn't covered by it.

What CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation means for the CMA (AAMA)

Medical Assisting Awards at Highland Community College

Award levelAwards, 2022-23
Certificates of one to two years3
Associate degrees2

Federal completions data (IPEDS, CIP 51.0801) count 5 medical assisting awards conferred by Highland Community College in 2022-23, 853rd of 951 schools on this site. These are credentials awarded, not graduates or job outcomes.

More Medical Assistant Schools in Illinois

Highland Community College Medical Assisting: Common Questions

Is Highland Community College's Medical Assistant Program Accredited?

Yes. Medical Assistant Certificate is listed by CAAHEP (directory captured October 12, 2026). Accredited by CAAHEP on the recommendation of MAERB (CAAHEP directory, October 12, 2026), so graduates meet the standard education route for the CMA (AAMA) exam.

How Much Does Highland Community College's Medical Assistant Program Cost?

Medical Assistant Certificate: $163 per credit hour tuition for in-district students; $275 per credit hour out-of-district and out-of-state (2026-27). Medical Assistant Associate of Applied Science Degree: $163 per credit hour tuition for in-district students; $275 per credit hour out-of-district and out-of-state (2026-27).

How Long Is Highland Community College's Medical Assistant Program?

Medical Assistant Certificate: 10 months (32 hours).

Does Highland Community College Include an Externship?

Yes. Medical Assistant Associate of Applied Science Degree: Practicum.

Which Certification Exams Does Highland Community College Prepare You For?

Medical Assistant Certificate names the CMA (AAMA). Medical Assistant Associate of Applied Science Degree names the CMA (AAMA).

Compare With Programs Like These

Sources

  1. highland.edu: Medical Assistant Certificate program page, reviewed October 12, 2026
  2. CAAHEP, accredited medical assisting programs, captured October 12, 2026
  3. U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions 2022-23, CIP 51.0801 (medical/clinical assistant)
  4. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Medical Assistants, Illinois

Every program on this site was checked on the school's own website in October 2026. Accreditation comes only from the CAAHEP and ABHES directories (captured October 12, 2026), never from a school's own wording, and school size from U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS) completions. Sponsored listings are labeled as ads and never change which programs we list or how we rank them. How we verify programs