Location: Rice Lake, WI•In-State Tuition: $4,524•Out-of-State Tuition: $6,583
Median Earnings (1yr)
$43,765
43rd percentile
40th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Debt
$12,000
15% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.27 ManageableSample: 37 graduates

Analysis

Northwood Technical College's certificate program produces graduates earning about $44,000 their first year—roughly $4,000 below the Wisconsin median for similar allied health programs. While the $12,000 debt load matches the state median and creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27, the earnings picture reveals a clear performance gap. Other Wisconsin technical colleges offering this program routinely see graduates earning $50,000 to $68,000, suggesting that location, clinical partnerships, or program focus might be limiting outcomes here.

The relatively low debt provides some cushion, and for students committed to staying in the Rice Lake area, this could still work as an affordable entry point into healthcare. However, families should understand they're choosing convenience over earnings potential—graduates at Gateway Technical or Waukesha County Technical are earning 35-57% more right out of the gate. For a certificate program that requires similar time investment regardless of institution, that difference adds up to tens of thousands of dollars annually.

If your student has flexibility in where they attend, Wisconsin offers stronger options in this field. If they're geographically constrained to north-central Wisconsin, verify what specific allied health roles this certificate leads to and whether those positions offer advancement opportunities that could close the earnings gap over time.

Where Northwood Technical College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions certificate's programs nationally

Northwood Technical CollegeOther allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Northwood Technical College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Northwood Technical College earns $44k — 43th percentile among allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions certificate programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions certificate's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (19 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Northwood Technical CollegeRice Lake$4,524$43,765—$12,0000.27
Gateway Technical CollegeKenosha$4,853$68,753—$10,2580.15
Waukesha County Technical CollegePewaukee$4,720$61,934$63,404$20,6240.33
Herzing University-MadisonMadison$13,420$57,114$57,795$7,1950.13
Madison Area Technical CollegeMadison$4,780$57,005—$17,0000.30
Western Technical CollegeLa Crosse$4,716$50,704—$12,9170.25
National Median—$45,746—$14,1670.31

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions graduates

Medical Dosimetrists

Generate radiation treatment plans, develop radiation dose calculations, communicate and supervise the treatment plan implementation, and consult with members of radiation oncology team.

$138,110/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Physician Assistants

Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.

$133,260/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Anesthesiologist Assistants

Assist anesthesiologists in the administration of anesthesia for surgical and non-surgical procedures. Monitor patient status and provide patient care during surgical treatment.

$133,260/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Nuclear Technicians

Assist nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, or other scientists in laboratory, power generation, or electricity production activities. May operate, maintain, or provide quality control for nuclear testing and research equipment. May monitor radiation.

$104,240/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Nuclear Monitoring Technicians

Collect and test samples to monitor results of nuclear experiments and contamination of humans, facilities, and environment.

$104,240/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Radiation Therapists

Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiation oncologist according to established practices and standards. Duties may include reviewing prescription and diagnosis; acting as liaison with physician and supportive care personnel; preparing equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, and protection devices; and maintaining records, reports, and files. May assist in dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.

$101,990/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

Prepare, administer, and measure radioactive isotopes in therapeutic, diagnostic, and tracer studies using a variety of radioisotope equipment. Prepare stock solutions of radioactive materials and calculate doses to be administered by radiologists. Subject patients to radiation. Execute blood volume, red cell survival, and fat absorption studies following standard laboratory techniques.

$97,020/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians. Includes vascular technologists.

$89,340/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Respiratory Therapists

Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.

$80,450/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

Take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Includes radiologic technologists and technicians who specialize in other scanning modalities.

$78,980/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists

Operate Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners. Monitor patient safety and comfort, and view images of area being scanned to ensure quality of pictures. May administer gadolinium contrast dosage intravenously. May interview patient, explain MRI procedures, and position patient on examining table. May enter into the computer data such as patient history, anatomical area to be scanned, orientation specified, and position of entry.

$78,980/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Northwood Technical College, approximately 30% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 37 graduates with reported earnings and 59 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.