Health Professions at Pellissippi State Community College

Is $15,440 in debt manageable when you're entering a field where peers typically earn around $35,000 in their first year? For health professions programs at Tennessee community colleges, this estimated debt-to-earnings picture looks reasonable. The 0.44 ratio means graduates would need roughly five months of their first year's salary to cover their loans—a far cry from the burdensome debt loads that plague some healthcare training paths. Pellissippi's estimated debt figure comes in below both the state median ($22,513) and national benchmark ($17,930) for similar programs, while earnings track with the national median.

The challenge here is context. Health professions is an umbrella term covering everything from dental hygienists to medical assistants to respiratory therapists—careers with vastly different earning trajectories. Data from comparable Tennessee programs shows this range clearly: Chattanooga State graduates report $36,180 while Jackson State comes in at $26,242. Without knowing which specific concentration this program offers, you're making a bet on Pellissippi's curriculum and local job market positioning. That $35,000 estimate could understate earnings for higher-paying specializations or overstate them for entry-level positions.

Before committing, determine exactly which healthcare career this associate's degree prepares students for and verify the local demand in Knoxville. The estimated numbers suggest solid value, but your child's actual outcome depends entirely on which health profession they're pursuing.