Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Northwood Technical College

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.