Location: Eau Claire, WI•In-State Tuition: $4,724•Out-of-State Tuition: $6,917
Median Earnings (1yr)
$38,272
24th percentile
25th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Debt
$12,000
15% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.31 ManageableSample: 57 graduates

Analysis

Chippewa Valley Technical College's Allied Health certificate leaves nearly $10,000 on the table compared to what other Wisconsin technical colleges deliver. At $38,272 in first-year earnings, graduates earn roughly $9,500 less than the state median and lag well behind comparable programs at Gateway Tech ($68,753) and Madison Area Tech ($57,005). This isn't just a gap—it represents real money that compounds over a career, and the 25th percentile ranking among Wisconsin programs suggests this isn't a fluke.

The debt load itself is manageable at $12,000, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31 that won't crush new graduates. But the low earnings create a different problem: opportunity cost. Allied health workers with this certificate will likely need years to catch up to peers who attended stronger programs in the state. The moderate sample size adds some confidence that these numbers reflect actual outcomes rather than statistical noise.

For Wisconsin families, the choice is clear: other in-state technical colleges offer the same credential with significantly better earnings potential. Unless geographic constraints make Chippewa Valley the only realistic option, students should strongly consider programs at Gateway, Waukesha, or Madison Area Tech, where the same investment yields substantially higher returns from day one.

Where Chippewa Valley Technical College Stands

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

Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeOther allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Chippewa Valley Technical College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Chippewa Valley Technical College earns $38k — 24th percentile among allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions certificate programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions certificate's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (19 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeEau Claire$4,724$38,272—$12,0000.31
Gateway Technical CollegeKenosha$4,853$68,753—$10,2580.15
Waukesha County Technical CollegePewaukee$4,720$61,934$63,404$20,6240.33
Herzing University-MadisonMadison$13,420$57,114$57,795$7,1950.13
Madison Area Technical CollegeMadison$4,780$57,005—$17,0000.30
Western Technical CollegeLa Crosse$4,716$50,704—$12,9170.25
National Median—$45,746—$14,1670.31

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 Chippewa Valley Technical College, approximately 17% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 57 graduates with reported earnings and 84 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.