Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Bellevue College

Bellevue College's allied health graduates command starting salaries nearly $17,000 above the state median and $25,000 above the national average—placing this program in the 95th percentile nationally and 80th in Washington. That's exceptional performance for an associate degree, with debt hovering right around typical levels at $20,000. Among Washington's 17 programs, only Tacoma Community College produces higher initial earnings.

The catch? Earnings drop significantly by year four, falling to $66,372. This 17% decline likely reflects the nature of certain allied health roles where early-career premium credentials (think ultrasound or radiologic technology) command top pay immediately, but wage growth plateaus as professionals settle into stable positions rather than climbing hierarchies. This isn't necessarily negative—many graduates may be prioritizing work-life balance or part-time schedules after establishing themselves—but parents should understand this isn't a field where earnings compound over time like nursing or engineering.

The value equation still works strongly in this program's favor. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.25, graduates can realistically pay off loans within months of starting work. For students interested in hands-on healthcare careers without committing to a four-year degree, Bellevue delivers among the strongest outcomes in the state, providing immediate earning power that far exceeds what most associate programs offer.