Medical assistant programs in Minnesota can be compared through a diploma and associate option at the same college. Anoka Technical College lists a 33-credit Medical Assistant Diploma and a 60-credit AAS, with published tuition-and-fee estimates for both.
This review focuses on the practical difference those academic plans make for an Anoka-area student. A supervised 280-hour externship follows the initial course sequence, so the longer-term budget needs to include clinical attendance as well as the award you choose.
Edited by Taylor RupeB.A. Psychology, University of Washington · B.S. Computer Science, Oregon State UniversityUpdated
Compare Training Options in Minnesota
Compare Medical Assistant Programs in Minnesota
This page profiles a reviewed medical assisting option in Minnesota. Each card explains the reasons for its selection. The review methodology describes how training, credential fit, cost, and attendance shape our picks. Use the school’s linked requirements to check your fit before applying.
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Anoka, MN · PublicClinical Training Required
Anoka Technical College
Medical Assistant Diploma and Associate of Applied Science
Why We Recommend It
Anoka Technical earns our Minnesota recommendation for combining a CAAHEP-accredited diploma, an associate option, and separate published tuition-and-fee estimates with a 280-hour externship. Those details let you compare educational depth and budget directly. The supervised placement needs its own attendance plan after the initial coursework.
Award / Training Route
Diploma · Associate of Applied Science
Credits
33 Diploma / 60 AAS
Supervised Experience
280 Hours
Published Cost
$7,592 Diploma / $13,804 AAS
An Anoka Diploma and AAS With a Defined Externship
Anoka Technical College gives Minnesota applicants a clear academic and budget comparison within one medical assisting program. The diploma requires 33 credits and the AAS requires 60. Estimated 2026–2027 tuition and fees are $7,592 for the diploma and $13,804 for the AAS, with living and individual attendance costs considered separately. Clinical procedures, laboratory diagnostic procedures, scheduling and insurance billing bring both patient-facing and office preparation into the curriculum.
The supervised externship totals 280 hours and follows completion of the first- and second-semester coursework. That sequence matters if you plan to work while attending in Anoka: ask when the placement schedule is set before assuming that course flexibility extends to the externship. CAAHEP accreditation is identified for the diploma, and the college's 2020–2024 results include 93.98% examination passage and 91.40% job placement. Read those outcomes alongside the practical plan you can complete.
A Good Fit For
Minnesota students comparing a diploma and AAS with published program tuition and fee estimates.
Plan Around
The 280-hour externship follows the initial semester sequence and needs its own work, travel and expense plan.
The Anoka Tech Medical Assistant page estimates 2026–2027 tuition and fees at $7,592 for the diploma and $13,804 for the AAS. Those figures are attached to complete academic awards, making them useful starting points for your comparison. Ask how accepted transfer credits affect the charges you would actually pay and which personal clinical expenses remain. Then add living costs and transport during the externship. Our medical assistant cost guide explains how to keep school charges separate from the full amount needed to attend and finish your chosen Minnesota route.
Prepare for the Transition From Courses to Externship
Anoka Tech's 280-hour externship requirement follows completion of first- and second-semester courses. Ask which clinical clearances are needed, when a site is confirmed and whether placement hours differ from your earlier class schedule. Put that transition into your work calendar before accepting shifts that could conflict with clinical attendance. Our working during school guide helps you plan for the changing demands of coursework and supervised practice. For a Minnesota applicant, the diploma-versus-degree decision should include this required clinical stage, regardless of how many general education credits you still need.
Medical Assistant Pay in Minnesota
$50,480Annual Median
$40,11010th Percentile
$60,10090th Percentile
BLS’s May 2025 survey counts 10,580 medical assistant jobs in Minnesota. The $50,480 median is the midpoint of occupation wages, with a 10th-to-90th-percentile range of $40,110 to $60,100. These figures cover workers across experience levels and employers, rather than the earnings of a particular program’s graduates. Read the BLS Medical Assistant Wage Data and Compare the National Salary Picture.
Minnesota Medical Assistant Program Questions
How Many Credits Are Anoka Tech’s Medical Assistant Awards?
The diploma requires 33 credits, while the AAS requires 60. Ask an adviser how any accepted prior coursework affects your individual plan.
What Do Anoka Tech’s Published Program Prices Include?
The 2026–2027 estimates of $7,592 for the diploma and $13,804 for the AAS cover tuition and fees. Add your living, travel and any individual clinical expenses to build a complete attendance budget.
When Does the Anoka Tech Externship Occur?
The 280-hour externship follows completion of first- and second-semester courses. Confirm the placement schedule and clearance deadlines before arranging work around that period.
Are Anoka Tech’s Exam and Placement Rates the Same Measure?
No. The 2020–2024 figures include 93.98% examination passage and 91.40% job placement. They describe different outcomes and should be read with their labels and five-year period attached.
Sources for This Comparison
School sources were reviewed in September 2026. Check current program and campus details before applying.
