Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Fortis Institute-Towson

Fortis Institute-Towson graduates earn about $7,000 less than the typical Maryland allied health program graduate, placing this in the bottom half of state options—a significant gap considering several community colleges in the state produce graduates earning $70,000+ in their first year. The $32,278 debt load is 60% higher than Maryland's median for this field, creating a concerning financial picture when paired with below-average earnings. While a 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic, it means nearly eight months of gross salary goes toward debt before accounting for living expenses.

The earnings decline from $48,753 to $46,225 over four years compounds the problem. Your child would graduate making less than peers at Howard Community College or CCBC, then watch that gap widen as their own salary drops. With 81% of students receiving Pell grants, this program serves a predominantly low-income population—families who can least afford a degree that underperforms state alternatives by such a wide margin.

The straightforward takeaway: Maryland's community colleges offer substantially better outcomes in this field, with lower debt and higher earnings that grow over time rather than shrink. Unless there's a compelling logistical reason to choose Fortis-Towson, your money would stretch further at a public institution.