Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Allegany College of Maryland

The backwards trajectory here tells you almost everything: Allegany's allied health grads start at $53,706 but see earnings drop to $43,265 by year four—a 19% decline that suggests many graduates aren't securing stable positions in their field. At $21,250 in debt, the program costs slightly more than Maryland's median while delivering below-average outcomes, ranking in just the 40th percentile statewide. Compare that to Community College of Baltimore County graduates who earn $69,898 or Howard Community College's $72,633—both demonstrating the kind of stable, higher-paying placement Allegany isn't achieving.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40 looks manageable on paper, but that's based on first-year earnings that don't persist. By year four, when most students are still repaying loans, that ratio effectively becomes much worse. Maryland has 19 programs in this field, and Allegany trails most of them despite serving a rural area where cost of living advantages might otherwise compensate for lower salaries.

For Maryland families, particularly those considering staying in-state, this program represents a missed opportunity. Your child would graduate with typical community college debt but below-average career prospects in a state with multiple stronger alternatives. Unless Cumberland's location offers compelling personal reasons to stay local, the higher-performing programs closer to Baltimore or DC provide substantially better returns on the same time and financial investment.