Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Roane State Community College

Roane State's allied health program starts graduates at earnings well below what peers earn at other Tennessee community colleges—about $7,000 less than the state median and roughly $15,000 behind programs at Volunteer State or Chattanooga State. That's a significant gap when you're trying to pay off loans in your first year out of school.

The program does benefit from Tennessee's community college pricing advantage: at $12,500 in median debt, borrowers owe about half what's typical nationally and roughly half what students at other Tennessee schools accumulate. This lower debt load matters, yielding a manageable 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio even with those below-average starting salaries. The 38% earnings jump from year one to year four also suggests graduates find ways to advance, though even at $42,683, four-year earnings still trail what many peer programs deliver in year one.

For a family prioritizing affordability above all else, the low debt here provides a safety net. But if your child can gain admission to one of Tennessee's stronger allied health programs—particularly Volunteer State, Chattanooga State, or Southwest Tennessee—the $15,000 higher starting salary would likely offset any modest difference in borrowing. The value proposition hinges on whether admission to those alternatives is realistic.