Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Parkland College

Parkland College's allied health program starts strong with $55,060 in first-year earnings—slightly above both national and Illinois medians—but raises questions with an unusual 9% earnings dip by year four. While the program ranks in the 60th percentile among Illinois schools, that still places it well behind top state performers like Harper College and Malcolm X, where graduates earn $10,000+ more annually.

The modest $13,500 debt load is a genuine bright spot, matching the Illinois median and sitting well below the national figure. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.25 means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in about three months of gross income, which is exceptional. However, the declining earnings trajectory deserves scrutiny—it could signal graduates moving from higher-paying hospital roles into different healthcare settings, or it might reflect the small sample size (under 30 graduates) creating statistical noise.

For families prioritizing affordability over peak earnings potential, this combination of low debt and solid starting wages makes sense, especially for students who'll stay local. But if your student is aiming for top earning potential in allied health, the stronger Illinois programs deliver meaningfully better outcomes and are worth comparing.