Medical Assistant Program at Highland Community College

✔️ Page Updated: December 26th, 2025 | Current for 2026, learn more about our data 🛈

For Freeport students seeking a flexible, fast-track healthcare career, the CAAHEP-accredited Medical Assistant program at HCC can be completed in just 10 months and prepares you for immediate CMA certification.

This page provides up-to-date program costs, graduation and employment data, accreditation details, contact information, and interactive resources – including a Google map, student reviews, and the official HCC campus video – to help you quickly evaluate whether Highland Community College is the right medical assisting school for you.

CMA AAMA: Medical Assistant Program Overview at HCC

Highland Community College (HCC), situated in Freeport, Illinois, offers an accessible and highly accredited pathway into the booming healthcare industry through its Medical Assistant program. Given the reported shortage of medical assistants, the job outlook for HCC graduates is exceptionally strong, promising great career prospects within the region’s healthcare network.

Program Options & Features

• Two Program Options: Students can choose between a focused 32-hour Medical Assistant Certificate or a 60-hour Associate of Applied Science Degree.
• Accreditation: The Certificate program has held CAAHEP accreditation since 2011.
• Fast Track: Both tracks are designed to fast-track your career, often taking just 10 months to complete.
• Curriculum: You will master essential clinical skills, patient care techniques, and administrative duties required in local physician offices and hospital settings.
• Practicum: The Associate Degree option includes a required practicum for deeper hands-on experience.

Student Support & Outcomes

HCC is designed for busy students. The flexible schedule typically requires classes just two days a week, and small class sizes ensure you receive personalized attention at the 2998 West Pearl City Road campus. Graduates are prepared to obtain the nationally recognized CMA(AAMA) certification, opening doors to roles like Patient Liaison or EKG Technician.

The college actively promotes scholarship and apprenticeship opportunities. While current tuition and cost information should be reviewed via the Financial Aid department, for specific program details, prospective students can directly contact Program Director Alicia Kepner at 815-599-3657.

HCC’s Medical Assistant Program Data

Our Data

Our Medical Assistant Program Data is carefully researched and curated from the following government and higher education organizations.

• CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) – CAAHEP is the largest programmatic accreditor for health sciences education and the official medical assisting program accreditor for the National CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam.
• IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) – A comprehensive database of U.S. colleges and universities.
• Peterson’s Database – Includes detailed college information and their Distance Learning Licensed Data Set.
• College Scorecard – A U.S. Department of Education tool offering key statistics on college costs, graduation rates, and student outcomes.
• NCES (National Center for Education Statistics) – The primary federal source for data and analysis on education in the U.S. such as cost of tuition. Our data shows average cost of tuition and fees for Public 2 year institutions per state.
• BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) – May 2024 Occupational Outlook Handbook Medical Assistants Data for Salary and Employment. Our data shows the mean annual salary and the total number of employed MAs per state.

• View All Medical Assistant Programs
• View Online Medical Assisting Programs
• View Medical Assistant Schools in Illinois