Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Del Mar College

Del Mar College graduates enter allied health fields with remarkably low debt—just $7,000 compared to the Texas median of $17,249—which puts them ahead financially despite earnings that trail both state and national benchmarks. Starting at $52,431 and reaching $53,811 after four years, graduates earn about $2,500 less annually than the typical Texas program in this field, placing them in the 40th percentile statewide. That's a meaningful gap when you consider top-performing Texas community colleges like Hill College and South Texas College are placing graduates into jobs paying $68,000-$78,000.

The extraordinarily low debt burden changes the calculus here. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.13, graduates can pay off their loans quickly even on below-median salaries. For students focused on entering the workforce affordably—particularly the 33% receiving Pell grants—this represents a viable path into allied health careers without the financial strain common at other programs. However, the flat earnings trajectory suggests these graduates may be concentrated in positions with limited advancement potential compared to peers from higher-performing Texas programs.

If your child can access one of the stronger programs elsewhere in Texas, the higher earning potential is worth pursuing. But for students who need to stay local or prioritize minimal debt above maximum earnings, Del Mar delivers healthcare credentials at a price point that makes the career transition financially manageable from day one.