Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Prairie State College

Prairie State College's allied health certificate carries real risk. At $35,362 in first-year earnings, graduates earn about $13,000 less than the Illinois median for this credential and trail far behind nearby community colleges like Harper ($64,113) and College of DuPage ($53,537). The 25th percentile ranking among Illinois programs means three-quarters of similar programs deliver better outcomes.

The debt picture looks manageable at $13,209—slightly below the state median—and the 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates could realistically pay this off. However, that calculation only works if the earnings trajectory improves significantly. In allied health fields like phlebotomy, medical assisting, or respiratory therapy, where opportunities for advancement exist, starting at the bottom quartile of Illinois programs isn't where you want to begin.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift substantially with a different cohort, so treat them as preliminary rather than definitive. But when other Illinois community colleges consistently produce higher-earning graduates in the same field, that pattern is hard to ignore. For families weighing options, this program needs to cost significantly less or offer distinct advantages to justify choosing it over nearby alternatives with proven track records.