Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at The College of Health Care Professions-Southwest Houston

Graduates from this program earn roughly $31,000 annually—about $15,000 less than the median for Texas allied health programs and nearly $14,000 below the national benchmark. Among Texas schools offering this credential, The College of Health Care Professions-Southwest Houston ranks in just the 10th percentile for earnings, a stark contrast to comparable programs at Houston Community College ($64,648) or even community college systems across the state. With 67 schools offering similar programs in Texas, this performance is particularly troubling given that students here take on slightly above-average debt ($16,048 versus $14,500 state median).

The earnings trajectory offers little hope for improvement—graduates see virtually no income growth between years one and four, staying locked around $31,000. This stagnation is unusual for healthcare credentials, which typically reward experience with higher pay. While the debt load is manageable at roughly half of first-year earnings, the fundamental problem is that earnings themselves are too low to justify even moderate borrowing. The school serves a predominantly Pell-eligible population (73%), making these weak outcomes especially concerning for students who can least afford a credential that underperforms.

For families considering this program, the numbers point clearly toward better options. Houston Community College, also in the area, delivers earnings more than double what this program produces. Unless there are compelling logistical reasons—like schedule flexibility unavailable elsewhere—prospective students should strongly consider alternative allied health programs that demonstrate actual earning power.