Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Cleveland State University

Cleveland State's Allied Health program shows a dramatic earnings trajectory that demands a closer look at the underlying data. With just a handful of graduates in this sample, that stunning leap from $26,845 to $95,240 likely reflects students entering different career paths—perhaps some becoming respiratory therapists while others complete additional certifications to become physician assistants or sonographers. This isn't typical career progression; it's more likely tracking different post-graduation pathways within a broad program category.

The concerning part is that first-year figure, which ranks in the 10th percentile among Ohio programs. Compare that to University of Cincinnati graduates earning $75,317 or University of Toledo's $66,769—those students are launching directly into well-paying allied health careers. The small sample size makes it impossible to know whether Cleveland State's program consistently produces these varied outcomes or whether this data captures an unusual cohort. At $24,357 in debt, students aren't overextended, but the initial earnings gap suggests the program may not be positioning graduates for immediate career entry in higher-paying specialties.

Before committing, parents should dig deeper: What exactly are graduates becoming? Are most taking positions that require only a bachelor's degree, or are many pursuing additional training? Understanding the typical career path—not just the statistical outliers—matters more than any median when the sample is this small.