Illinois · Verified October 2026
Medical Assistant Programs in Illinois
Where Can You Train as a Medical Assistant in Illinois?
40 schools in Illinois run 52 medical assisting programs, with the most in Chicago, Springfield and Rockford. 39 are certificates or diplomas and 12 are associate degrees. 20 are CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited, making graduates eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam. The lowest cost we found is $3,850 at Lincoln Trail College, against a state median of $6,586. Medical assistants in Illinois earn a median of $46,090 a year (BLS, May 2025).
- schools in Illinois
- 40
- programs
- 52
- CAAHEP or ABHES accredited
- 20
- median cost
- $6,586
- median MA pay (BLS May 2025)
- $46,090
Standout Medical Assistant Programs in Illinois
| Standout | Program | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest cost | Lincoln Trail College certificate: Medical Assistant Certificate (MEDA C192)Best for keeping costs down near Robinson · Robinson | $3,850 estimated |
| Lowest-cost accredited | Waubonsee Community College certificate: Certificate of Achievement in Medical Assistant (422A)Best for a CMA-eligible program on a budget · Sugar Grove | $4,672 · CAAHEP |
| Shortest | Lincoln Trail College certificate: Medical Assistant Certificate (MEDA C192)Best for starting work fast near Robinson · Robinson | 32 weeks |
| Most awards | Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park diploma: Medical Assistant DiplomaBest for an established program with a track record · Melrose Park | 191 MA awards, 2022-23 |
Lowest cost: the published total or published rate x credits (estimated). Shortest: the stated length in weeks. Most awards: IPEDS 2022-23 medical assisting awards at the school. Paused and bridge programs are left out.
Illinois Medical Assistant Schools Compared
| School | Credentials | Accreditation | Shortest | Lowest cost | MA awards, 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose ParkMelrose Park · Private for-profit | Diploma | 37 wk | $24,749 | 191 | |
| Midwest Technical Institute-IllinoisSpringfield · Private for-profit | Diploma | CAAHEP | 35 wk | $18,297 | 165 |
| First Institute of Travel, Inc. (First Institute)Crystal Lake · Private for-profit | Certificate | 50 wk | $17,925 | 99 | |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X CollegeChicago · Public | Certificate | CAAHEP | 76 | ||
| Rasmussen University-IllinoisRockford · Private for-profit | Diploma and Associate | ABHES | 52 wk | $17,289 | 76 |
| Midwestern Career CollegeChicago · Private for-profit | Diploma | 70 | |||
| College of Lake CountyGrayslake · Public | Certificate and Associate | CAAHEP | 40 wk | $6,586 | 35 |
| Lake Land CollegeMattoon · Public | Certificate and Associate | CAAHEP | 40 wk | 33 | |
| CALC Institute of TechnologyAlton · Private for-profit | Certificate | 50 wk | 28 | ||
| Lincoln Land Community CollegeSpringfield · Public | Non-credit | $4,490 | 28 | ||
| William Rainey Harper CollegePalatine · Public | Certificate | CAAHEP | $5,247 | 27 | |
| Lewis and Clark Community CollegeGodfrey · Public | Certificate and Associate | 32 wk | 25 | ||
| Southwestern Illinois CollegeBelleville · Public | Certificate and Associate | CAAHEP | 43 wk | $5,198 | 22 |
| Waubonsee Community CollegeSugar Grove · Public | Certificate | CAAHEP | 91 wk | $4,672 | 22 |
| Joliet Junior CollegeJoliet · Public | Certificate | ABHES | 48 wk | 17 | |
| State Career CollegeGurnee · Private for-profit | Diploma | 45 wk | $16,797 | 17 | |
| John A Logan CollegeCarterville · Public | Certificate | 48 wk | $7,267 | 15 | |
| College of DuPageGlen Ellyn · Public | Certificate and Associate | CAAHEP | 64 wk | $6,240 | 12 |
| Rend Lake CollegeIna · Public | Certificate and Associate | 32 wk | $5,700 | 12 | |
| Black Hawk CollegeMoline · Public | Certificate | $5,310 | 11 | ||
| Parkland CollegeChampaign · Public | Certificate | CAAHEP | $6,473 | 10 | |
| Stellar Career CollegeChicago · Private for-profit | Diploma | 43 wk | $17,950 | 8 | |
| Fox CollegeTinley Park · Private for-profit | Associate | ABHES | 52 wk | 7 | |
| Illinois Valley Community CollegeOglesby · Public | Certificate | CAAHEP | 7 | ||
| Moraine Valley Community CollegePalos Hills · Public | Certificate | CAAHEP | 48 wk | 7 | |
| Triton CollegeRiver Grove · Public | Certificate | CAAHEP | $5,056 | 7 | |
| Lincoln Trail CollegeRobinson · Public | Certificate and Associate | 32 wk | $3,850 | 6 | |
| Shawnee Community CollegeUllin · Public | Certificate | 32 wk | $4,800 | 6 | |
| Heartland Community CollegeNormal · Public | Certificate | CAAHEP | 40 wk | $5,394 | 5 |
| Highland Community CollegeFreeport · Public | Certificate and Associate | CAAHEP | 43 wk | 5 | |
| John Wood Community CollegeQuincy · Public | Certificate | 40 wk | $6,080 | 5 | |
| Oakton CollegeDes Plaines · Public | Certificate | 32 wk | 5 | ||
| Kishwaukee CollegeMalta · Public | Certificate | 4 | |||
| Richland Community CollegeDecatur · Public | Certificate | 40 wk | $9,501 | 4 | |
| Danville Area Community CollegeDanville · Public | Certificate | CAAHEP | 3 | ||
| Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career CollegeRockford · Private for-profit | Diploma | 43 wk | $19,950 | 3 | |
| Carl Sandburg CollegeGalesburg · Public | Certificate and Associate | CAAHEP | 40 wk | $8,675 | 2 |
| South Suburban CollegeSouth Holland · Public | Certificate | 48 wk | $4,560 | 2 | |
| Elgin Community CollegeElgin · Public | Certificate | CAAHEP | 48 wk | ||
| Northwest Suburban CollegeRolling Meadows | Certificate and Associate | 32 wk | $11,584 |
From each school's own pages, reviewed October 2026. Accreditation from the CAAHEP and ABHES directories, captured October 12, 2026. Awards from IPEDS 2022-23 (CIP 51.0801) count credentials conferred, not graduates. Blank cells: the school's pages don't give that figure.
Every Medical Assistant Program in Illinois
52 programs in Illinois
- Certificate
- Cost
- $5,310estimated: $177/credit × 30
- Credits
- 30
- Externship
- Included
- Certificate
- Length
- 50 wk
- Externship
- Included
- Billing and coding
- Pharmacology
- RMAAMT
- Associate degree
- CertificateCAAHEPCMA (AAMA) eligible
Certificate in Medical Assisting at Carl Sandburg College: Tuition, Hours and Exams
Carl Sandburg College school facts and programs · Galesburg
- Cost
- $8,675published total
- Length
- 40 wk1 year
- Credits
- 34
- Externship
- Included
- EKG
- CMAAAMA
- RMAAMT
- CertificateCAAHEPCMA (AAMA) eligible
Advanced Certificate in Medical Assisting at City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College: Cost, Length and Externship
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College school facts and programs · Chicago
- Cost
- $157per credit, 2025-26
- Phlebotomy
- RMAAMT
- Associate degree
- Length
- 64 wk4 semesters
- Credits
- 64
- Phlebotomy
- EKG
- Billing and coding
- CertificateCAAHEPCMA (AAMA) eligible
Medical Assistant, Certificate at College of DuPage: Tuition, Hours and Exams
College of DuPage school profile and campuses · Glen Ellyn
- Cost
- $6,240estimated: $160/credit × 39
- Length
- 64 wk2-4 semesters
- Credits
- 39
- Phlebotomy
- EKG
- Billing and coding
- Associate degree
- Cost
- $10,858published total, 2026-27
- Length
- 80 wkTwo years full time
- CMAAAMA
- CertificateCAAHEPCMA (AAMA) eligible
Medical Assisting Certificate at College of Lake County: Schedule, Cost and Skills Taught
College of Lake County school facts and programs · Grayslake
- Cost
- $6,586published total, 2026-27
- Length
- 40 wkAbout one year full time
- Externship
- Included
- CMAAAMA
- CertificateCAAHEPCMA (AAMA) eligible
Medical Assistant Certificate at Danville Area Community College: Schedule, Cost and Skills Taught
Danville Area Community College school profile and campuses · Danville
- Cost
- $205per credit
- CertificateCAAHEPCMA (AAMA) eligible
- Cost
- $148per credit
- Length
- 48 wkThree semesters full time
- Externship
- Included
- Phlebotomy
- Billing and coding
- RMAAMT
- Certificate
- Cost
- $17,925published total, effective October 1, 2024
- Length
- 50 wk50 weeks
- Externship
- 160 hours
- Phlebotomy
- EKG
- Billing and coding
- RMAAMT
- CCMANHA
- Associate degreeABHESCMA (AAMA) eligible
Medical Assisting Associate Degree at Fox College: Schedule, Cost and Skills Taught
Fox College school profile and campuses · Tinley Park
- Cost
- $8,120per term, 2026
- Length
- 52 wk12 months
- Externship
- Included
- Phlebotomy
- CMAAAMA
- RMAAMT
- CertificateCAAHEPCMA (AAMA) eligible
Medical Assistant Certificate at Heartland Community College: Admission, Cost and Length
Heartland Community College school profile and campuses · Normal
- Cost
- $5,394estimated: $174/credit × 31
- Length
- 40 wk1 year
- Credits
- 31
- Externship
- 40 hours
- Phlebotomy
- CMAAAMA
- Associate degree
- Cost
- $163per credit, 2026-27
- Externship
- Included
- CMAAAMA
- CertificateCAAHEPCMA (AAMA) eligible
Medical Assistant Certificate at Highland Community College: Tuition, Hours and Exams
Highland Community College school profile and campuses · Freeport
- Cost
- $163per credit, 2026-27
- Length
- 43 wk10 months
- CMAAAMA
- CertificateCAAHEPCMA (AAMA) eligible
Medical Assistant Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College: Cost, Length and Externship
Illinois Valley Community College school facts and programs · Oglesby
- Cost
- $154per credit
- Externship
- Included
- Phlebotomy
- EKG
- CMAAAMA
- RMAAMT
- Certificate
- Cost
- $7,267published total, 2026-27
- Length
- 48 wkThree semesters (summer, fall, spring)
- Credits
- 35
- Externship
- 160 hours
- NCMANCCT
- Certificate
- Cost
- $6,080estimated: $190/credit × 32
- Length
- 40 wkOne year; part time available
- Credits
- 32
- Externship
- 180 hours
- Phlebotomy
- EKG
- CMAAAMA
- CertificateABHESCMA (AAMA) eligible
- Cost
- $153per credit, 2026-27
- Length
- 48 wkThree semesters
- Externship
- 160 hours
- Phlebotomy
- EKG
- Billing and coding
- RMAAMT
No programs match these filters.
Program facts come from each school's own pages, reviewed October 2026. Cost is the school's published program total, or its published per-credit rate times the stated credits, marked "estimated"; totals often leave out books, fees and exam costs. Length is converted to weeks from the school's wording. Accreditation and "CMA (AAMA) eligible" come only from the CAAHEP and ABHES directories, captured October 12, 2026. Exam badges show the certification exams the program's page names.
Online Medical Assistant Programs Open to Illinois Residents
These 11 programs put all coursework online and arrange the externship at a clinic near you. Each is listed once, lowest cost first. Confirm the school can place you in Illinois before you apply.
Medical Assistant Pay in Illinois
- bottom tenth
- $36,400
- median
- $46,090
- top tenth
- $56,590
- employed
- 20,260
Illinois's median of $46,090 is above the national median of $45,690. Figures are annual wages for medical assistants (SOC 31-9092), BLS OEWS May 2025.
Medical Assistant Schools in States Near Illinois
- Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis, IN · associate degree and certificate · accredited
- Lincoln College of Technology-IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN · diploma and associate degree
- Ross Medical Education Center-KokomoKokomo, IN · diploma
- Ross Medical Education Center-LafayetteLafayette, IN · diploma
- Kirkwood Community CollegeCedar Rapids, IA · diploma and associate degree · accredited
- Mercy College of Health Sciences (now Mercy Health Sciences University)Des Moines, IA · certificate and associate degree · accredited
- Southeastern Community CollegeWest Burlington, IA · diploma · accredited
- Eastern Iowa Community College DistrictDavenport, IA · diploma
- MedQuest CollegeLouisville, KY · diploma
- Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical CollegeCumberland, KY · diploma
- Bluegrass Community and Technical CollegeLexington, KY · associate degree and diploma · accredited
- Medical Career & Technical CollegeRichmond, KY · diploma
- Concorde Career College-BroadwayKansas City, MO · diploma
- Concorde Career College-Kansas CityKansas City, MO · diploma
- State Fair Community CollegeSedalia, MO · associate degree and certificate
- Midwest InstituteEarth City, MO · certificate
- Northeast Wisconsin Technical CollegeGreen Bay, WI · diploma · accredited
- Madison Area Technical College (Madison College)Madison, WI · diploma · accredited
- Bryant & Stratton College-WauwatosaWauwatosa, WI · associate degree and diploma · accredited
- Western Technical CollegeLa Crosse, WI · diploma · accredited
Medical Assistant Programs Near Illinois Cities
- Medical assistant programs near Bloomington52 local programs in Illinois
- Medical assistant programs near Chicago52 local programs in Illinois
- Medical assistant programs near Elgin52 local programs in Illinois
- Medical assistant programs near Lombard52 local programs in Illinois
- Medical assistant programs near Matteson52 local programs in Illinois
- Medical assistant programs near Murphysboro52 local programs in Illinois
- Medical assistant programs near Naperville52 local programs in Illinois
- Medical assistant programs near North Chicago52 local programs in Illinois
- Medical assistant programs near Oak Lawn52 local programs in Illinois
- Medical assistant programs near St. Charles52 local programs in Illinois
- Medical assistant programs near Tinley Park52 local programs in Illinois
- Medical assistant programs near Wheaton52 local programs in Illinois
Medical Assistant Programs in Illinois: Common Questions
How Many Medical Assistant Programs Are in Illinois?
52 at 40 schools, verified on each school's own site in October 2026. Chicago (3), Springfield (2), Rockford (2) and Moline (1) have the most.
Are There Accredited Medical Assistant Programs in Illinois?
Yes. Carl Sandburg College, City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College, College of DuPage, College of Lake County, Danville Area Community College and Elgin Community College and others run CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited programs (directories captured October 12, 2026). Graduates meet the standard route to the CMA (AAMA) exam. Every accredited program.
How Much Does Medical Assistant School Cost in Illinois?
Among the 30 Illinois programs that publish a total or a per-credit rate with their credits, cost runs from $3,850 to $24,749, with a median of $6,586.
How Much Do Medical Assistants Make in Illinois?
The median is $46,090 a year ($22.16 an hour), with the middle half earning $38,970 to $49,460, across 20,260 medical assistants (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The national median is $45,690. Medical assistant pay in every state.
Can Illinois Residents Train as a Medical Assistant Online?
Partly. 11 programs put all coursework online, and 17 Illinois programs are hybrid, but every program ends in an in-person externship. Check that an online school can place you at a clinic in Illinois before you enroll. Online medical assistant programs.
Compare Programs Beyond Your State
- Accredited Medical Assistant ProgramsCAAHEP and ABHES programs nationwide
- Online Medical Assistant ProgramsHybrid and fully online programs
- Accelerated Medical Assistant ProgramsPrograms of 32 weeks or less
- Affordable Medical Assistant ProgramsRanked by cost
- Medical Assistant CertificationCMA, RMA, CCMA and NCMA compared
- Medical Assistant Programs in Indiana10 schools
- Medical Assistant Programs in Iowa13 schools
- Medical Assistant Programs in Kentucky21 schools
- Medical Assistant Programs in Missouri11 schools
- All StatesEvery state's programs
Sources
- Official program pages of the 40 Illinois schools listed, reviewed October 2026
- CAAHEP, accredited medical assisting programs, captured October 12, 2026
- ABHES, directory of programmatically accredited programs, captured October 12, 2026
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions 2022-23, CIP 51.0801
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Medical Assistants, state estimates