Carl Sandburg College, a public community college in Galesburg, offers two medical assisting credentials with open enrollment:
- Medical Assisting Certificate (34 credits)
- Medical Assistant Associate in Applied Science
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Cost | Est. Duration | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Assisting Certificate | ~$9,100 (in-district, est.) | ~1 year (fall, spring, summer) | 34 |
| Medical Assistant AAS | ~$14,500 to $15,500 (in-district, est.) | ~2 years (est.) | ~60 to 64 (est.) |
Sandburg’s 2025-26 cost sheet puts the certificate at about $8,789 for in-district students. The ~$9,100 estimate adds the 2026-27 tuition increase of $9 per credit hour. The AAS estimate applies the 2026-27 rate plus program and registration fees to a typical 60 to 64 credit AAS, since Sandburg does not publish a degree total. Confirm both figures with the college.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| School type | Public community college (District 518) |
| Campus | Galesburg |
| Format | Hybrid: lectures face-to-face, virtual, or online; labs and two courses require attendance |
| Programmatic accreditation | CAAHEP, on MAERB recommendation (certificate) |
| Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission (HLC) |
| Exam eligibility | CMA (AAMA) and RMA (AMT) |
| Admission | Open enrollment; advising and orientation required |
| Start term | Fall (published cost sheet and schedules) |
| Job placement | 21.05%, 2020 to 2022 average |
Medical Assisting Certificate
The certificate costs about $9,100 for in-district students in 2026-27 and runs three terms from a fall start. See the official program page.
Certificate Curriculum
Structure. The 34-credit certificate covers front-office procedures, clinical skills, laboratory testing, and electrocardiograms, followed by a supervised practicum. Students attend fall, spring, and a summer session.
Distinctive elements. Sandburg’s program has no limited-enrollment process, unlike its nursing and imaging programs. Many students use it as an entry point into the college’s LPN, RN, or radiologic technology programs.
You Should Know
- Attendance is mandatory at all labs and in ALH 155 and MDA 125, even when lectures are online.
- Sandburg’s catalog names the certificate as the CAAHEP-accredited credential. Confirm with the program coordinator how AAS graduates qualify for the CMA exam.
Certificate Practicum
- Supervised, unpaid practicum at the end of the program; CAAHEP requires at least 160 hours, and Sandburg does not list its exact total on the program page
- Healthcare Provider CPR must stay current throughout the program
- Most clinical sites require COVID-19 vaccination, although the college does not
Certificate Admissions
- Meeting with a Sandburg academic advisor before registering
- Attendance at the required program orientation
- Immunizations and titers, TB test, and physical exam
- Criminal background check and drug screen
You Should Know
- Background check or drug screen findings can block entry to the program. Physical exam findings can block clinical placement.
Medical Assistant AAS
The AAS costs an estimated $14,500 to $15,500 for in-district students and takes about two years. It adds general education to the certificate’s medical assisting core. Sandburg publishes a sample fall-start AAS schedule on the program page.
You Should Know
- The AAS credit total and cost are estimates. Sandburg’s associate degrees generally require 60 to 64 credits; confirm the exact total in the current catalog.
Tuition
Sandburg charges $190 per credit hour for in-district students in 2026-27, plus a $15 per credit hour medical assisting program fee and a $35 registration fee each term.
| Residency | Tuition per Credit | Certificate Tuition (34 credits) |
|---|---|---|
| In-district | $190 | $6,460 |
| Out-of-district (Illinois) | $281 | $9,554 |
| Out-of-state | $317 | $10,778 |
- Program fees add $510 for the certificate ($15 × 34 credits).
- MDA 112, 114, 116, 125, 127, and 216 each carry a $15 course fee.
- The published 2025-26 certificate total of about $8,789 includes tuition, fees, and books.
- Financial aid and local WIOA funding are available to eligible students.
Be aware that:
- Students outside District 518 may qualify for in-district rates under Illinois’s CAREER agreement if their home college has no medical assisting program.
- Immunizations, the physical, background check, and drug screen are paid separately.
Outcomes
| Measure | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retention | 77.27% | 25% | 87.50% | 68.42% |
| Job placement | 0% | 28.57% | 100% | 21.05% |
Source: Sandburg MAERB outcomes, program page. The 2022 cohort retained 87.5% of students and placed every graduate who sought work. The three-year averages are dragged down by 2020 and 2021, when small pandemic-era cohorts posted very low placement. Sandburg does not publish an exam pass rate or any data after 2022, so ask for current figures.
Why Choose This Medical Assistant Program?
Sandburg fits a west-central Illinois resident who wants a CAAHEP-accredited certificate without a competitive admission process.
Open access. There is no limited-enrollment screening. Students who complete the advising and health requirements can start in the fall.
Cost. At about $9,100 in-district, the one-year certificate is the lower-cost route to CMA eligibility at Sandburg.
Health career ladder. The certificate feeds directly into Sandburg’s LPN, RN, and radiologic technology programs.
Drawbacks. Published job placement averaged 21% for 2020 to 2022, and the outcomes are now several years old. The practicum length is not stated on the program page.
Accreditation
Carl Sandburg College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The Medical Assisting Certificate Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) on the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). Graduates are eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam and the RMA (AMT) exam.