Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Jacksonville State University

Jacksonville State University's Allied Health program graduates earn about $56,000 in their first year—roughly $4,000 below both the national and Alabama medians for this degree. Among the 11 Alabama schools offering this program, JSU ranks at the 40th percentile, meaning six programs produce higher-earning graduates. The gap with top-performing Alabama programs is substantial: Columbia Southern University graduates earn $28,000 more annually.

The $26,000 debt load is manageable, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47—well within reasonable territory. Students here borrow slightly less than the state median, which helps offset the below-average earnings. For a program serving many first-generation college students (43% receive Pell grants), avoiding excessive debt is meaningful.

The practical question is whether this program justifies its cost when other Alabama options produce better outcomes at similar debt levels. University of South Alabama, for instance, delivers identical median earnings ($59,611) with comparable debt. Parents should weigh JSU's fit and accessibility against the $3-4,000 annual earnings gap that could compound to $120,000+ over a 30-year career. The program works financially—graduates can service their loans comfortably—but it's not Alabama's strongest value in this field.