Location: Cookeville, TN•In-State Tuition: $14,644
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$40,825
Est. from TN median (16 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$16,433
Est. from TN median (3 programs)

Analysis

Based on comparable Allied Health programs in Tennessee, this certificate appears positioned near the middle of the state's earnings spectrum—far below the $69,000 first-year earnings at top programs like Meridian Institute, but roughly in line with the state median. The estimated $40,825 starting salary also trails the national median of $45,746, suggesting Tennessee's Allied Health market may offer lower compensation than other regions.

The estimated $16,433 in debt is higher than both the Tennessee median ($11,906) and national median ($14,167) for these programs, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40. That translates to manageable monthly payments—around 7-8% of gross income—but you're paying more for earnings that fall below what many peer programs deliver. With 73% of students receiving Pell grants, affordability clearly matters to families here, making the premium debt level worth questioning.

The challenge is that we're working entirely from estimates since Fortis Institute-Cookeville's actual graduate outcomes aren't publicly available. This makes it difficult to know whether this specific program matches, exceeds, or falls short of these state averages. Before committing, insist on speaking with recent graduates directly about their job placement and actual earnings—the school should be able to facilitate these conversations if their outcomes are competitive. If they can't or won't, community colleges like Chattanooga State show what's achievable with lower debt and better earnings in the same state.

Where Fortis Institute-Cookeville Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions certificate's programs nationally

Fortis Institute-Cookeville (estimated ±10%)Other allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Tennessee

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions certificate's programs at peer institutions in Tennessee (25 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Fortis Institute-CookevilleCookeville$14,644$40,825*—$16,433*—
Meridian Institute of Surgical AssistingNashville—$69,188*$63,072$16,433*0.24
Chattanooga State Community CollegeChattanooga$4,550$53,180*$35,716$16,760*0.32
Columbia State Community CollegeColumbia$4,904$51,093*$46,272$10,339*0.20
Southwest Tennessee Community CollegeMemphis$4,550$48,290*$54,323$8,875*0.18
Volunteer State Community CollegeGallatin$4,524$45,599*$41,743$10,812*0.24
National Median—$45,746*—$14,167*0.31
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions graduates

Medical Dosimetrists

Generate radiation treatment plans, develop radiation dose calculations, communicate and supervise the treatment plan implementation, and consult with members of radiation oncology team.

$138,110/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Physician Assistants

Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.

$133,260/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Anesthesiologist Assistants

Assist anesthesiologists in the administration of anesthesia for surgical and non-surgical procedures. Monitor patient status and provide patient care during surgical treatment.

$133,260/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Nuclear Technicians

Assist nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, or other scientists in laboratory, power generation, or electricity production activities. May operate, maintain, or provide quality control for nuclear testing and research equipment. May monitor radiation.

$104,240/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Nuclear Monitoring Technicians

Collect and test samples to monitor results of nuclear experiments and contamination of humans, facilities, and environment.

$104,240/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Radiation Therapists

Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiation oncologist according to established practices and standards. Duties may include reviewing prescription and diagnosis; acting as liaison with physician and supportive care personnel; preparing equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, and protection devices; and maintaining records, reports, and files. May assist in dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.

$101,990/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

Prepare, administer, and measure radioactive isotopes in therapeutic, diagnostic, and tracer studies using a variety of radioisotope equipment. Prepare stock solutions of radioactive materials and calculate doses to be administered by radiologists. Subject patients to radiation. Execute blood volume, red cell survival, and fat absorption studies following standard laboratory techniques.

$97,020/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians. Includes vascular technologists.

$89,340/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Respiratory Therapists

Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.

$80,450/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

Take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Includes radiologic technologists and technicians who specialize in other scanning modalities.

$78,980/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists

Operate Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners. Monitor patient safety and comfort, and view images of area being scanned to ensure quality of pictures. May administer gadolinium contrast dosage intravenously. May interview patient, explain MRI procedures, and position patient on examining table. May enter into the computer data such as patient history, anatomical area to be scanned, orientation specified, and position of entry.

$78,980/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Fortis Institute-Cookeville, approximately 73% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 16 similar programs in TN. Actual outcomes may vary.