Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Daytona State College

Daytona State College graduates from this allied health program start strong at $54,152—outperforming 60% of similar Florida programs—but that advantage doesn't last. By year four, earnings drop to $46,420, a 14% decline that's unusual for healthcare fields where experience typically increases earning power. This suggests graduates may be concentrated in roles with limited advancement potential or high turnover, rather than the career-track positions that allied health training typically unlocks.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $14,944, it's substantially lower than both the Florida median ($21,000) and national average ($19,113). That low debt load means even with declining earnings, the financial burden remains manageable—the 0.28 debt-to-earnings ratio is quite reasonable. However, when nearby Seminole State graduates earn $65,841 and Broward College grads make $65,396 in the same field with similar associate's degrees, the gap is hard to ignore.

For families counting on allied health as a stable career ladder, this program delivers initial employment but lacks the momentum you'd want to see. If your child is set on Daytona State for location or cost reasons, understand they're trading higher long-term earning potential for lower upfront debt. If commuting to Seminole State or another top-performing Florida program is feasible, the $11,000-20,000 earnings difference could be worth the extra effort.