Malcolm X College (MXC), part of the City Colleges of Chicago, runs one of the largest medical assisting programs in Illinois, graduating 60 to 90 students a year. It offers one credential:
- Medical Assisting Advanced Certificate (31 credits)
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Cost | Est. Duration | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Assisting Advanced Certificate | ~$6,050 (Chicago resident, est.) | ~1 year full time (3 semesters); 4 semesters part time | 31 |
The estimate applies City Colleges’ 2026-27 in-district rate of $163 per credit hour to 31 credits ($5,053), plus about $1,000 for books, uniforms, screenings, and the credentialing exam. City Colleges does not publish a program total, so confirm costs with the program office.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| School type | Public community college (City Colleges of Chicago) |
| Campuses | Main campus (1900 W. Jackson Blvd.) and West Campus (4624 W. Madison St.) |
| Format | Campus |
| Schedules | Day, mid-day, and evening; full time or part time |
| Programmatic accreditation | CAAHEP, on MAERB recommendation |
| Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission (HLC) |
| Exam eligibility | CMA (AAMA), RMA (AMT), and RPT (AMT) |
| Admission | Selective; interview required |
| Job placement | 90.63%, five-year average, 2020 to 2024 |
| Exam pass rate | 79.38% (RMA and CMA), five-year average, 2020 to 2024 |
Medical Assisting Advanced Certificate
The Advanced Certificate costs about $6,050 for Chicago residents and takes about one year full time. See the official program page.
Certificate Curriculum
Structure. The full-time plan runs fall, spring, and summer. Required courses include:
- BIOLOGY 116 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology: 4 credits
- MEDASST 102 Medical Law and Ethics: 3 credits
- MEDASST 107 Pharmacology: 4 credits
- MEDASST 108 Fundamentals of Ambulatory Billing and Coding: 3 credits
- MEDASST 109 Medical Assisting Practicum: 3 credits, in the final term
Distinctive elements. Graduates are prepared for both the RMA and the Registered Phlebotomy Technician (RPT) exams from AMT. Day, mid-day, and evening sections run at two West Side locations. See the catalog listing.
You Should Know
- BIOLOGY 226 and 227 can substitute for BIOLOGY 116, effective spring 2024.
- The program’s certification page emphasizes AMT’s RMA and RPT. Students who prefer the CMA (AAMA) are eligible through CAAHEP accreditation and should confirm exam registration support with the program.
Certificate Practicum
- MEDASST 109 carries 3 credits; CAAHEP requires at least 160 supervised, unpaid hours
- A dedicated work-based learning coordinator manages placements
- Full-time students complete it in summer; part-time students in their fourth semester
Certificate Admissions
The program uses selective enrollment through the my.ccc.edu student portal. Applicants need:
- Eligibility for English 101
- Eligibility for Math 118 or higher
- Official transcripts from colleges outside City Colleges
- An interview with program staff
You Should Know
- Students who need developmental English or math must finish it before applying, which can add a semester or more.
Tuition
City Colleges set 2026-27 tuition at $163 per credit hour for City of Chicago residents. Students who registered for summer 2026, fall 2026, or spring 2027 by June 28, 2026 keep the 2025-26 rate of $157.
| Residency | Tuition per Credit | Certificate Tuition (31 credits) |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago resident | $163 | $5,053 |
| Out-of-district (Illinois) | $429 | $13,299 |
| Out-of-state | $538 | $16,678 |
- Books, uniforms, background check, health screenings, and the exam fee add an estimated $1,000.
- Federal aid, the Chicago Star Scholarship for eligible CPS graduates, and WIOA funding are available to qualifying students.
Be aware that:
- Out-of-district Illinois residents pay more than 2.5 times the Chicago rate. Those whose home college has no medical assisting program may qualify for in-district rates under the state CAREER agreement.
- Per-term registration and activity fees are not included in the estimate.
Outcomes
| Year | Retention | Job Placement | Exam Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 80.35% | 93.10% | 71% |
| 2023 | 73.65% | 97.78% | 73% |
| 2022 | 77.69% | 86.57% | 75% |
| 2021 | 87.18% | 84.62% | 87.88% |
| 2020 | 84.09% | 88.89% | 86.27% |
| Five-year average | 79.43% | 90.63% | 79.38% |
Source: MXC programmatic outcomes data from its MAERB annual report; exam pass covers both the RMA (AMT) and CMA (AAMA). Placement has stayed above 84% every year, reaching nearly 98% in 2023. Exam pass rates slipped from about 87% in 2020 and 2021 to 71% in 2024, so ask how the program supports exam preparation. Because each class has 60 to 90 graduates, the rates are steadier than at small programs.
Why Choose This Medical Assistant Program?
MXC fits a Chicago resident who wants a CAAHEP-accredited credential at a low in-district price with a schedule that can work around a job.
Cost. At about $6,050 all in for Chicago residents, the certificate is a low-cost path to CMA eligibility.
Schedule. Day, mid-day, and evening sections, plus a part-time plan, suit working adults.
Scale and placement. Job placement averaged 91% from 2020 to 2024 across classes of 60 to 90 graduates.
Drawbacks. Admission is selective and requires college-level English and math eligibility. Suburban and downstate residents pay much higher out-of-district tuition unless they qualify for a CAREER waiver.
Accreditation
Malcolm X College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Its medical assisting 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), and the program prepares them for AMT’s RMA and RPT exams.