Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Columbia State Community College

Columbia State graduates enter Allied Health at strong initial salaries—$58,188 beats both the Tennessee median ($46,736) and national average ($54,327), placing this program in the 60th percentile statewide. The manageable $13,000 debt load (well below the state median of $19,662) means graduates can afford the monthly payments comfortably even if starting salaries were lower. However, there's a significant catch: earnings drop to $48,067 by year four, a 17% decline that reverses what should be early career momentum.

This earnings pattern suggests graduates may be taking initial positions that pay well but don't lead to advancement, or they're pivoting to different roles within healthcare that offer more flexibility but less pay. It's worth understanding which specific Allied Health careers these graduates pursue—diagnostic sonography and respiratory therapy follow different trajectories than surgical technology or medical assisting. Among Tennessee's 19 programs, Columbia State holds middle ground, trailing specialized schools like Meridian's surgical assisting program but remaining competitive with peer community colleges.

The low debt still makes this a relatively safe bet financially. Even at the lower four-year earnings, graduates maintain a healthy income-to-debt ratio. If your child plans to work immediately and values getting into healthcare quickly without bachelor's-level debt, this program delivers on that promise—just don't expect traditional salary growth in the first few years.