Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Moraine Valley Community College

Moraine Valley's Allied Health program demonstrates the tension between immediate career entry and long-term growth. Graduates start strong at $55,739—above both state and national medians—but earnings slip to $52,242 by year four. Among Illinois community colleges, the program ranks solidly in the 60th percentile, though it trails nearby options like Harper College ($65,443) and College of DuPage ($62,471) by roughly $10,000 annually.

The standout feature here is the extraordinarily low debt load. At just $10,000, this program carries half the state median and less than the national average—placing it in the 95th percentile for affordability. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.18 means graduates could theoretically pay off loans in about two months of gross income, an exceptional starting position for any healthcare career. For families focused on minimizing student debt while entering the healthcare field, this represents real value.

The backward earnings trajectory warrants attention, though. Whether graduates are shifting to part-time work, pursuing further education, or hitting early career plateaus isn't clear from the data. Still, even at the four-year mark, the debt burden remains highly manageable. If your child plans to use this associate degree as a stepping stone to bachelor-level healthcare credentials, the minimal debt makes that transition financially feasible—essentially buying career exploration at a very reasonable price.