Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Northern Kentucky University

Northern Kentucky University graduates in allied health start with decent earnings of $52,094—roughly $5,000 below the Kentucky median—but then experience a significant drop to $45,500 by year four. This downward trajectory is unusual for healthcare fields and warrants careful examination of what specific roles these graduates are entering. While the program ranks in the 40th percentile among Kentucky's ten allied health programs, the earnings pattern suggests graduates may be entering positions with limited advancement potential or facing burnout issues common in certain diagnostic and treatment roles.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $30,103, borrowing is actually lighter than both state and national medians, keeping the debt-to-earnings ratio manageable at 0.58. This means graduates can expect to earn nearly twice their debt in their first year, which is reasonable despite the below-average starting salary. The low national debt percentile (10th) indicates this program is particularly affordable compared to similar programs elsewhere.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether $45,500 in year-four earnings—roughly $14,000 below what graduates from Morehead State are earning—justifies the investment, even with lower debt. If your child has the option to attend Morehead State or Eastern Kentucky for comparable cost, those programs deliver stronger earnings outcomes in this same field. Northern Kentucky's program works financially, but it's not the strongest allied health option in Kentucky.