Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at North-West College-Pomona

North-West College-Pomona's Allied Health certificate costs $20,000—slightly more than the California median—but delivers earnings that trail both state and national averages and then decline over time. One year out, graduates earn $38,666, already below California's $41,066 median and significantly behind the national $45,746 benchmark. By year four, earnings slip to $37,214, a troubling 4% decline when most careers see growth. Among California's 112 similar programs, this ranks at just the 40th percentile, while nationally it falls to the 25th percentile.

The debt burden isn't excessive compared to other California programs in this field, but it takes on different meaning when paired with below-average earnings. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52, graduates owe roughly half their first-year salary—manageable but not impressive given how little earning power that first year represents. The real concern is what happens next: declining earnings suggest limited career progression, possibly indicating graduates are entering lower-skilled allied health roles without clear advancement paths.

For families considering this program, the numbers demand careful scrutiny. California community colleges and the top programs in this state demonstrate that allied health certificates can lead to substantially better outcomes—several deliver earnings exceeding $80,000. Unless this specific program offers unique placement advantages or specializations that aren't reflected in the data, prospective students would be wise to explore alternatives with stronger earnings trajectories.