Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Jones County Junior College

With an estimated $12,000 in debt—roughly a quarter of first-year earnings—this allied health program appears manageable on paper. Similar programs across Mississippi produce median earnings around $45,000, which is nearly $10,000 below the national median for this field. That gap matters: allied health professionals in Mississippi consistently earn less than their counterparts elsewhere, and this program's estimated outcomes sit right at the state median.

The concerning detail is the earnings trajectory. Four years out, actual reported earnings for this program drop to $38,162—well below the estimated first year figure. This backward slide is unusual and suggests graduates may be moving into lower-paying roles over time, switching fields, or working reduced hours. Meanwhile, top-performing allied health programs at nearby community colleges like Hinds and Pearl River report first-year earnings exceeding $50,000, suggesting that not all Mississippi programs face the same ceiling.

For families, the modest debt load is reassuring, but the earnings picture—both the state gap and the puzzling decline over time—deserves scrutiny. Before committing, investigate which specific allied health careers this program trains for, where its graduates actually work, and why earnings might decrease rather than grow. Programs within the same field can lead to very different outcomes depending on certifications and job placements.