Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Columbia Central University-Caguas

Columbia Central's allied health program illustrates the dramatic gap between Puerto Rico's healthcare wages and mainland earnings. While graduates earn just $17,676 in their first year—placing this program in the bottom 5% nationally—they're actually outperforming 95% of comparable programs in Puerto Rico, where the median for this field is only $11,491. The program costs $7,125 in debt, which is below Puerto Rico's median and significantly lower than the $19,113 national average.

The earnings trajectory shows encouraging growth, with graduates reaching $21,044 by year four—a 19% increase that ranks among the strongest in Puerto Rico's allied health field. With debt at just 40% of first-year earnings, most graduates should be able to manage repayment despite the low absolute wages. For context, 81% of students here receive Pell grants, meaning this program serves Puerto Rico's most economically vulnerable students while delivering above-average results for the region.

For families planning to stay in Puerto Rico, this represents solid value in a challenging economic environment. The low debt load combined with top-tier in-state performance makes it manageable. However, families expecting mainland wages will be disappointed—even the top Puerto Rico program ($21,354) earns less than half the national median. If there's any possibility of relocating to the mainland after graduation, know that these credentials may not translate to the $54,000+ salaries common elsewhere.