Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce

The $9,908 first-year earnings here reflect Puerto Rico's dramatically different healthcare labor market, not program failure. Graduates from this program see 91% earnings growth by year four, reaching $18,898—which places them second among Puerto Rico's allied health programs, trailing only Inter American-Ponce. While these figures seem shockingly low compared to the $60,447 national median, they're competitive within the island's economy, where the program ranks in the 60th percentile statewide.

The challenge is the $20,000 debt burden. At twice the first-year salary and more than double the Puerto Rico median debt for this field ($8,831), graduates face a difficult repayment situation even with the strong earnings trajectory. For context, 81% of students at this institution receive Pell grants, and many likely work in Puerto Rico's public healthcare system where salaries are compressed but jobs are stable.

For families planning to stay in Puerto Rico, this program delivers competitive outcomes in a constrained market—but only if that debt load is manageable. Parents should explore whether their student qualifies for loan forgiveness programs specific to Puerto Rican healthcare workers or consider schools with lower debt profiles. For students planning to work on the mainland after graduation, know that credential portability and mainland salary expectations vary significantly by specialty within allied health fields.