Career Training Path › Oregon › Chemeketa Community College
Chemeketa Community College
Salem, Oregon · Public college · Training programs available:
Address: 4000 Lancaster Dr NE, Salem, OR 97305 · Phone: (503) 399-5000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Chemeketa Community College is a public trade and career school in Salem, Oregon, offering medical assistant, EMT and paramedic, and dental assistant programs, accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Chemeketa's completion rate compared to the state average of 55.4% is not reported, but per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, graduates carry median debt of $12,822 and earn median wages of $40,968 ten years after entry.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for Chemeketa Community College in federal data; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid can be used here, and about 36.9% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical assistants | $43,760 | $50,410 | $59,160 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $37,600 | $49,270 | $55,530 |
| Dental assistants | $49,010 | $59,490 | $63,520 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $64,000 | $80,470 | $90,690 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $39,590 | $58,520 | $77,780 |
| Construction laborers | $39,210 | $50,860 | $62,200 |
| Pharmacy technicians | $44,530 | $54,900 | $62,560 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $46,070 | $59,450 | $66,570 |
| Machinists | $47,040 | $63,820 | $76,070 |
| Electricians | $59,550 | $101,310 | $121,680 |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | $47,690 | $63,970 | $76,840 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Oregon (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 42 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 32 | not reported | $62,508 | $10,500 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 26 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 19 | not reported | not reported | $9,500 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 13 | $34,853 | $30,409 | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Associate degree | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | $41,193 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | $41,193 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 2 | $34,853 | $30,409 | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Chemeketa Community College is a public community college in Salem, Oregon. It is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, with additional program-level accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here. Among its 18 trade and career program families, the campus awards the most credentials in medical assistant programs (54 completers), EMT and paramedic training (38 completers), and dental assistant programs (26 completers), alongside offerings in welding, electrician training, diesel mechanics, and CNC machining.
In federal data, Chemeketa reports 192 trade completers against an undergraduate enrollment of 6,610. The state average completion percentage is 55.4%, but Chemeketa's own completion rate compared to that average is not reported for this campus in federal data. Graduates carry a median debt of $12,822, and median earnings ten years after entry are $40,968. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 36.9% of students receive Pell Grants.
This campus suits students pursuing shorter, career-focused certificates in fields like medical assisting, EMT training, or dental assisting, as well as those considering longer trade programs such as electrician or diesel mechanic training; specific program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data, so career changers should confirm scheduling directly with the school. To verify accreditation and outcomes independently, check with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and review the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at the link provided by the school.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Chemeketa offers 18 trade and career program families, with the most completers in medical assistant programs (54), EMT and paramedic training (38), and dental assistant programs (26). It also offers welding, electrician, diesel mechanic, and CNC machining programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, Chemeketa is accredited. Its institutional accreditor is the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, with additional program-specific accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, meaning students can use FAFSA and Pell Grants here. About 36.9% of students receive Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The state average completion percentage is 55.4%, but how Chemeketa's own completion rate compares to that average is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school or check the College Scorecard for more detail.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates of Chemeketa carry a median debt of $12,822, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings ten years after entry are $40,968, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school directly at (503) 399-5000 or visit its website for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Chemeketa is a public community college, which typically means lower published tuition for in-state residents compared to private for-profit trade schools, though exact costs are not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school directly to confirm program duration for a specific trade.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and review federal outcome data directly on the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?208390.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers both shorter certificate programs, such as medical assisting and EMT training, and longer trade programs like electrician and diesel mechanic training, though exact schedules and lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data. Career changers should contact the school to confirm fit with their schedule.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Chemeketa Community College at (503) 399-5000 or through its website, https://www.chemeketa.edu/, for application details.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data against other nearby schools is not reported for this campus in federal data. Use the College Scorecard link to compare completion rates, debt, and earnings across schools.
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Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.