Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Lackawanna College

Lackawanna College graduates from this allied health program start strong—earning $65,584 in their first year, which ranks in the 94th percentile nationally and 80th percentile among Pennsylvania programs. That's $11,000 above the state median and comparable to the top community college programs in PA. With debt of $24,875, graduates owe just 38% of their first-year earnings, a manageable ratio for an associate's degree. The catch? Earnings drop sharply to $54,169 by year four, a 17% decline that's unusual in healthcare fields where experience typically pays off.

This earnings pattern suggests graduates may be working in roles where initial certification commands premium pay but advancement opportunities are limited, or they're transitioning into different positions. Even with this decline, fourth-year earnings remain above the state median, and the program serves a predominantly working-class student body (58% receive Pell grants) who are achieving solid healthcare employment. The debt load is slightly higher than the state median but still reasonable given the strong initial placement.

If your child can leverage that strong first-year salary to pay down debt quickly and has a clear career path in mind, this program delivers access to well-paying healthcare work. Just understand that those impressive starting numbers may not grow—they're likely to plateau or even decline.