Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Eastern Iowa Community College District

Eastern Iowa Community College's allied health program graduates students with manageable debt but disappointing earnings—$42,927 in the first year, which trails both Iowa's state median ($51,460) and the national benchmark ($54,327) by substantial margins. This places graduates in just the 11th percentile nationally and 25th percentile statewide, meaning three-quarters of Iowa programs produce better outcomes. The gap is stark: nearby Southeastern Community College graduates earn $60,712 their first year, more than $17,000 ahead of Eastern Iowa grads doing similar work.

The relatively low debt load of $17,943 softens the blow somewhat—it's below both state and national averages, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 that's manageable even with the lower starting salary. Earnings do grow to $48,521 by year four, a respectable 13% increase, though this still lags behind what peers at other Iowa programs earn right out of school.

For families weighing this program, the fundamental question is whether the lower tuition justifies accepting significantly reduced earning power. You're essentially trading $8,500-$18,000 in annual income compared to other Iowa options to save a few thousand dollars upfront. Unless location or specific program features make Eastern Iowa the only viable choice, the stronger-performing allied health programs elsewhere in Iowa offer substantially better returns.