Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Houston Community College

Houston Community College graduates from this allied health program earn substantially more than the national average—$67,098 compared to $54,327—placing them in the 95th percentile nationwide. That's impressive reach for a community college program. However, within Texas's competitive allied health landscape, the picture is more nuanced. At the 60th percentile statewide, HCC trails programs like Hill College and South Texas College by $10,000 or more in first-year earnings, though it still outperforms the state median by about $11,000.

The real puzzle here is the earnings trajectory. Graduates see income drop 6% from year one to year four, falling from $67,098 to $62,998. This could reflect the nature of entry-level allied health positions—perhaps graduates start in specialized roles that don't offer typical career progression, or certification renewals and continuing education requirements create friction. At $16,975 in median debt (just 25% of first-year earnings), the financial risk is manageable, and graduates can realistically pay this off within a year or two even with the earnings decline.

For Texas families, this program offers strong immediate returns at minimal debt, particularly valuable given that 37% of students receive Pell grants. Just understand that the career trajectory may not follow the typical upward curve—your child might be earning roughly the same amount five years in as they do starting out.