Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Southwest University at El Paso

Southwest University at El Paso's allied health program carries debt that's more than double what most Texas students in this field take on—$44,863 versus the state median of $17,249. While first-year earnings of $51,809 aren't catastrophic, they trail both the state median ($55,965) and what you'd see at numerous Texas community colleges. Hill College graduates, for instance, earn $78,100 within a year of completing similar programs, and even Houston Community College beats this program by $15,000. The debt burden here ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of comparable programs leave students with less debt.

The 15% earnings growth to $59,327 by year four helps, but it doesn't fundamentally change the math. You're looking at debt that nearly equals a full year's starting salary, which will constrain your child's financial flexibility for years. With 79% of students here receiving Pell grants, many families are already stretching to afford this education.

The bottom line: Texas offers dozens of allied health programs with stronger outcomes and significantly less debt. Unless there are compelling geographic or personal reasons to attend Southwest University at El Paso specifically, exploring alternatives—particularly community colleges with proven track records—would likely serve your child's financial future better.