Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Southwestern Community College

Southwestern Community College manages to deliver allied health training at remarkably low debt—just $10,408, which beats 95% of similar programs nationwide. That's less than half North Carolina's median of $15,454 for this field, making it one of the state's most affordable options. However, starting earnings of $48,233 trail both the state median ($51,990) and national median ($54,327), placing graduates in the 40th percentile among North Carolina programs.

The bigger concern is the earnings trajectory: graduates actually earn less four years out ($45,006) than they do initially, a 7% decline that's unusual in healthcare fields. Compare this to top-performing NC programs like Central Piedmont, where similar graduates start above $61,000. This gap suggests either different specialty concentrations or regional employment constraints in Sylva's rural mountain location. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22 is manageable in the first year, but the declining earnings pattern means debt takes longer to overcome.

For families prioritizing minimal debt over maximum earnings potential, Southwestern delivers—your child won't graduate burdened by loans. But if career growth matters more, examine which specific allied health tracks this program emphasizes and whether they align with higher-paying specialties available at programs closer to North Carolina's urban healthcare markets.