Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Sauk Valley Community College

The standout feature here is the exceptionally low debt load—at just $8,312, Sauk Valley's graduates carry 56% less than Illinois peers and far less than the national average. With first-year earnings of $48,160, that translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.17, among the best in the nation for this field. However, those earnings trail both the Illinois median ($53,897) and rank in just the 40th percentile statewide, sitting about $6,000 below what graduates earn at community colleges like Harper or College of DuPage.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) demands caution—these numbers could shift significantly year to year. But if they hold, the tradeoff is clear: you're accepting below-average starting pay in exchange for minimal debt burden. For a student who needs to start working quickly without heavy monthly loan payments, that's potentially valuable. For someone seeking to maximize earning potential in allied health, stronger-performing Illinois programs exist within the community college system, often with comparable affordability.

The practical question: can your family absorb slightly lower starting earnings in exchange for financial flexibility? If debt avoidance is the priority and geography limits options, this works. If career advancement and higher earnings matter more, look at the Chicago-area programs that consistently place graduates $10,000-15,000 ahead while remaining affordable public options.