Location: State College, PA•In-State Tuition: $19,208•Admission Rate: 99%
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$56,844
Est. from PA median (4 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$18,506
Est. from national median (66 programs)

Analysis

South Hills' allied health certificate carries an estimated $18,506 in debt—substantially less than the $26,472 typical for Pennsylvania programs in this field. Based on comparable allied health programs across the state, first-year earnings around $56,844 put graduates right at the state median and well above the national benchmark of $45,746. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33, students would owe roughly four months of their first year's salary, a manageable burden for a certificate credential.

The caveat: these figures come from peer programs, not South Hills' actual graduate outcomes, since too few students completed this certificate for the Department of Education to publish specific data. That small cohort size should prompt questions about the program's stability and whether it offers the clinical connections and placement support you'd find at larger allied health schools in Pennsylvania. The 99% admission rate and 48% Pell enrollment suggest South Hills serves students who might not have other options, but without verified outcomes data, you're relying on faith that their training matches what Community College of Allegheny County or Reading Hospital's programs deliver.

The financial picture looks reasonable if the estimates hold true, but you're betting on a program without a track record you can verify. Before committing, confirm what specific credential students earn, where recent graduates actually work, and whether employers in State College recognize South Hills' certificate as equivalent to what established programs produce.

Where South Hills School of Business & Technology Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions certificate's programs nationally

South Hills School of Business & Technology (estimated ±10%)Other allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions certificate's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (26 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
South Hills School of Business & TechnologyState College$19,208$56,844*—$18,506*—
Saint Joseph's University - LancasterLancaster$31,866$63,990*$59,228$27,000*0.42
Community College of Allegheny CountyPittsburgh$4,842$58,779*$60,076$26,995*0.46
Reading Hospital School of Health SciencesReading$11,915$54,909*$55,908$25,948*0.47
All-State Career SchoolEssington—$37,396*$36,063—*—
National Median—$45,746*—$14,167*0.31
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions graduates

Medical Dosimetrists

Generate radiation treatment plans, develop radiation dose calculations, communicate and supervise the treatment plan implementation, and consult with members of radiation oncology team.

$138,110/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Physician Assistants

Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.

$133,260/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Anesthesiologist Assistants

Assist anesthesiologists in the administration of anesthesia for surgical and non-surgical procedures. Monitor patient status and provide patient care during surgical treatment.

$133,260/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Nuclear Technicians

Assist nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, or other scientists in laboratory, power generation, or electricity production activities. May operate, maintain, or provide quality control for nuclear testing and research equipment. May monitor radiation.

$104,240/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Nuclear Monitoring Technicians

Collect and test samples to monitor results of nuclear experiments and contamination of humans, facilities, and environment.

$104,240/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Radiation Therapists

Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiation oncologist according to established practices and standards. Duties may include reviewing prescription and diagnosis; acting as liaison with physician and supportive care personnel; preparing equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, and protection devices; and maintaining records, reports, and files. May assist in dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.

$101,990/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

Prepare, administer, and measure radioactive isotopes in therapeutic, diagnostic, and tracer studies using a variety of radioisotope equipment. Prepare stock solutions of radioactive materials and calculate doses to be administered by radiologists. Subject patients to radiation. Execute blood volume, red cell survival, and fat absorption studies following standard laboratory techniques.

$97,020/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians. Includes vascular technologists.

$89,340/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Respiratory Therapists

Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.

$80,450/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

Take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Includes radiologic technologists and technicians who specialize in other scanning modalities.

$78,980/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists

Operate Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners. Monitor patient safety and comfort, and view images of area being scanned to ensure quality of pictures. May administer gadolinium contrast dosage intravenously. May interview patient, explain MRI procedures, and position patient on examining table. May enter into the computer data such as patient history, anatomical area to be scanned, orientation specified, and position of entry.

$78,980/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At South Hills School of Business & Technology, approximately 48% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 4 similar programs in PA. Actual outcomes may vary.