Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Sentara College of Health Sciences

Sentara College graduates command immediate earning power that outpaces 87% of similar programs nationally, with first-year earnings of $63,585—nearly $10,000 above the national median. However, this strong start comes with a caveat: earnings dip to $61,695 by year four, a pattern suggesting these graduates may hit their salary ceiling quickly rather than building toward higher-paying specialized roles. The debt load of $21,000 remains manageable, translating to a 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio that gives graduates breathing room even if their income plateaus.

Within Virginia's competitive allied health landscape, this program sits solidly in the middle—60th percentile among 28 state programs—trailing behind Northern Virginia Community College ($74,050) and even nearby Tidewater Community College ($62,524). That said, Sentara graduates still earn substantially more than the Virginia median of $56,308, and the program serves a meaningful population of working-class students (34% receive Pell grants) who need reliable entry to well-paying healthcare careers.

For parents, the calculation here is straightforward: your child gets immediate access to above-average healthcare earnings with debt that won't become crushing, but you're not paying for dramatic career advancement. If your student wants to work in diagnostic or treatment roles without pursuing further credentials, this delivers solid value. Just know that other Virginia programs offer either stronger immediate earnings or lower debt burdens.