Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Riverside College of Health Careers

Riverside College's graduates earn about $7,000 less than typical Virginia allied health programs at the associate level, ranking in just the 25th percentile statewide. That gap matters when you're in the same region as programs like Northern Virginia Community College ($74,050) and even nearby Tidewater Community College ($62,524)—schools where graduates earn 25-35% more right out of the gate.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $21,560, it's manageable relative to first-year earnings, giving a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46. That's actually lower than many allied health programs, though Virginia schools typically carry even less debt (median $16,150). With nearly half of students on Pell grants and a selective 17% admission rate, Riverside serves students who need access to healthcare careers, but the earnings suggest the program may not be opening doors to the highest-paying positions in diagnostic and intervention fields.

The bottom line: if you're comparing allied health programs in Virginia, community colleges are delivering significantly stronger earnings outcomes at lower cost. Riverside's pathway works—graduates see 17% income growth by year four—but starting $15,000 behind peers at other Virginia schools means playing catch-up for years. Unless there are compelling access or location reasons, the state's community college system offers better value in this field.