Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degree) at Arkansas State University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$48,927

Est. from AR median (8 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$15,500

Est. from AR median (7 programs)

Analysis

Arkansas State's allied health program lands in the middle of the state pack, with peer programs suggesting around $49,000 in first-year earnings—several thousand below what the top community college programs in Arkansas produce. Students at Arkansas Tech and UA-Pulaski Tech see starting salaries in the low $60,000s, a significant gap that's worth understanding before enrollment.

The estimated debt load of $15,500 keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.32, meaning graduates would owe roughly four months of their expected salary. That's reasonable for an allied health credential that leads to immediate employment. What's less clear is why this program appears to lag behind several Arkansas community colleges, which typically offer lower tuition than a state university. The four-year earnings figure of $48,077 suggests minimal growth in those early years, which is unusual for healthcare roles that often reward experience quickly.

Without actual graduate outcomes from this specific program, you're making decisions based on what similar Arkansas programs produce—but those programs show a wide range from $48,000 to $64,000. Before committing, find out which specific allied health concentration this associate's prepares for and whether Arkansas State has strong clinical placement relationships. In healthcare, those connections often matter more than the institution's name.

Where Arkansas State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions associates's programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Arkansas State University	—	$48,077	—
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences	$49,833	$56,068	+13%
National Park College	$48,020	$54,147	+13%
Black River Technical College	$40,193	$41,433	+3%
NorthWest Arkansas Community College	$59,189	$41,219	-30%

Compare to Similar Programs in Arkansas

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions associates's programs at peer institutions in Arkansas (21 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Arkansas State UniversityJonesboro	$7,754	$48,927*	$48,077	$15,500*	—
Arkansas Tech UniversityRussellville	$8,508	$64,185*	—	$18,291*	0.28
University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical CollegeNorth Little Rock	$4,848	$62,098*	—	$21,250*	0.34
NorthWest Arkansas Community CollegeBentonville	$2,982	$59,189*	$41,219	$15,500*	0.26
University of Arkansas for Medical SciencesLittle Rock	—	$49,833*	$56,068	$24,625*	0.49
National Park CollegeHot Springs	$5,600	$48,020*	$54,147	$13,773*	0.29
National Median	—	$54,327*	—	$19,113*	0.35

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions graduates

Medical Dosimetrists

Generate radiation treatment plans, develop radiation dose calculations, communicate and supervise the treatment plan implementation, and consult with members of radiation oncology team.

$138,110/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Physician Assistants

Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.

$133,260/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Anesthesiologist Assistants

Assist anesthesiologists in the administration of anesthesia for surgical and non-surgical procedures. Monitor patient status and provide patient care during surgical treatment.

$133,260/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Nuclear Technicians

Assist nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, or other scientists in laboratory, power generation, or electricity production activities. May operate, maintain, or provide quality control for nuclear testing and research equipment. May monitor radiation.

$104,240/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Nuclear Monitoring Technicians

Collect and test samples to monitor results of nuclear experiments and contamination of humans, facilities, and environment.

$104,240/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Radiation Therapists

Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiation oncologist according to established practices and standards. Duties may include reviewing prescription and diagnosis; acting as liaison with physician and supportive care personnel; preparing equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, and protection devices; and maintaining records, reports, and files. May assist in dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.

$101,990/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

Prepare, administer, and measure radioactive isotopes in therapeutic, diagnostic, and tracer studies using a variety of radioisotope equipment. Prepare stock solutions of radioactive materials and calculate doses to be administered by radiologists. Subject patients to radiation. Execute blood volume, red cell survival, and fat absorption studies following standard laboratory techniques.

$97,020/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians. Includes vascular technologists.

$89,340/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Respiratory Therapists

Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.

$80,450/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

Take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Includes radiologic technologists and technicians who specialize in other scanning modalities.

$78,980/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists

Operate Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners. Monitor patient safety and comfort, and view images of area being scanned to ensure quality of pictures. May administer gadolinium contrast dosage intravenously. May interview patient, explain MRI procedures, and position patient on examining table. May enter into the computer data such as patient history, anatomical area to be scanned, orientation specified, and position of entry.

$78,980/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Arkansas State University, approximately 37% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 8 similar programs in AR. Actual outcomes may vary.