Columbia, South Carolina

South University-Columbia Medical Assistant Associate Degree

Associate degreePrivate for-profitCAAHEP-accredited

What Medical Assistant Programs Does South University-Columbia Offer?

South University-Columbia in Columbia, South Carolina offers one medical assisting program: Associate of Science in Medical Assisting, taught hybrid. It is CAAHEP-accredited, so graduates are eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam. It comes to about $43,700 (estimated).

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Associate of Science in Medical Assisting at South University-Columbia

Inside South University-Columbia's Associate Degree

Hours or credits
92 quarter credits
Externship
160-hour practicum at a local medical practice in the final quarter (AHS2098)
Also covers
phlebotomy; EKG
Certification
Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) by the AAMA Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) by AMT Clinical Certified Medical Assistant (CCMA) by the NHA Nationally Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) by NCCT Clinical Medical Assistant Certification (CMAC) by the AMCA
Admission
General university admission; background check and drug screen at least three weeks before the first practicum placement; program technical standards
Tuition (school's wording)
$475 per quarter credit hour (Associate of Science in Medical Assisting, 92 quarter credits); textbooks and technology fees are additional2026-27 catalog. Source: southuniversity.edu, reviewed October 12, 2026.
Estimated cost
$43,700Estimated: $475/credit × 92, before fees.
Outcomes the school publishes
Average credentialing exam pass rate of 89% for 2020-2024 at the Columbia campusReported for 2020-2024.

Associate of Science in Medical Assisting at South University-Columbia: full program profileSouth University-Columbia associate degree page on southuniversity.edu ↗

From South University-Columbia's own program, admissions and tuition pages, reviewed October 12, 2026. Tuition changes each year; confirm fees with the school.

How South University-Columbia Compares

  • Associate of Science in Medical Assisting costs an estimated $43,700, against a median of $12,661 across 137 priced associate degree programs on this site.

Medical assistants in South Carolina earn a median of $41,160 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), against $45,690 nationally.

Work out what South University-Columbia's associate degree costs you after aid

Is South University-Columbia's Medical Assistant Program Accredited?

Yes. Associate of Science in Medical Assisting 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.

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

Medical Assisting Awards at South University-Columbia

Award levelAwards, 2022-23
Associate degrees1

Federal completions data (IPEDS, CIP 51.0801) count 1 medical assisting award conferred by South University-Columbia in 2022-23, 948th of 951 schools on this site. These are credentials awarded, not graduates or job outcomes, and chains report each campus separately.

More Medical Assistant Schools in South Carolina

South University-Columbia Medical Assisting: Common Questions

Is South University-Columbia's Medical Assistant Program Accredited?

Yes. Associate of Science in Medical Assisting 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 South University-Columbia's Medical Assistant Associate Degree Cost?

Associate of Science in Medical Assisting: $475 per quarter credit hour (Associate of Science in Medical Assisting, 92 quarter credits); textbooks and technology fees are additional (2026-27 catalog), about $43,700 for the program (estimated).

Does South University-Columbia Include an Externship?

Yes. Associate of Science in Medical Assisting: 160-hour practicum at a local medical practice in the final quarter (AHS2098).

Which Certification Exams Does South University-Columbia Prepare You For?

Associate of Science in Medical Assisting names the CMA (AAMA), RMA (AMT), CCMA (NHA) and NCMA (NCCT).

What Do You Need to Apply to South University-Columbia?

Associate of Science in Medical Assisting: General university admission; background check and drug screen at least three weeks before the first practicum placement; program technical standards.

Compare With Programs Like These

Sources

  1. southuniversity.edu: Associate of Science in Medical Assisting 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, South Carolina

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