Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at St Luke's College

St. Luke's College grads start near the state average but then see their earnings drop by 10% over four years—falling to $45,300 while peers at other Iowa programs maintain stronger trajectories. That's the puzzling pattern here: decent initial placement followed by unexplained erosion that leaves graduates earning $11,000 less than peers at Southeastern Community College after four years.

The debt picture offers some relief—at $24,000, it's manageable and below the national median for this field. That 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates aren't drowning in payments. But the backwards earnings trend raises questions about whether this program connects students to the most stable career paths within allied health. With 16 programs across Iowa, many showing consistent upward earnings, this decline stands out as unusual for a field that typically rewards experience.

For parents, the verdict hinges on whether their child has specific connections to St. Luke's clinical network or plans to stay in Sioux City. The affordable debt won't sink anyone, but the earnings ceiling appears lower than what other Iowa programs deliver. If flexibility matters—or if your student is academically competitive—stronger-performing community colleges like Des Moines Area or Kirkwood may offer better long-term earning potential in the same field.