Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at South University-Richmond

South University-Richmond's Allied Health program delivers earnings that consistently outperform both national and Virginia medians, with graduates earning $39,761 in their first year compared to the national median of $36,862. Among Virginia's 16 programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile—solidly above average but not exceptional. The concerning element here is the debt load: at $30,694, students borrow significantly more than typical for this field, where the national median debt is just $19,825.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77 means graduates start with debt equal to about nine months of their first-year salary. While this isn't catastrophic, it's notably higher than what students typically face in this field elsewhere. The silver lining is steady earnings growth—graduates see a 9% increase from year one to year four, reaching $43,365, which helps improve the long-term financial picture.

For families weighing this program, the key tradeoff is clear: you'll pay premium tuition for above-average but not outstanding career outcomes. The robust sample size gives confidence in these numbers, and graduates do find steady employment with respectable earnings growth. However, Virginia offers several community college alternatives that likely provide similar career preparation at much lower cost, making this a harder sell unless your child specifically needs the private school environment or support services.