Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

The small sample size here is a critical disclaimer, but the pattern that emerges is troubling: earnings at U of A-Fort Smith appear to drop nearly 30% between years one and four, falling from $45,967 to $32,723. That's the opposite trajectory you want from an allied health program. While first-year graduates start with manageable debt at $12,491—well below both state and national medians—they're earning about $3,000 less than the Arkansas median and nearly $9,000 below the national average right out of the gate. More concerning is where this program sits statewide: 40th percentile means the majority of Arkansas allied health programs produce better outcomes, with top Arkansas programs like Arkansas Tech ($64,185) and UA-Pulaski Tech ($62,098) delivering earnings nearly double what U of A-Fort Smith grads see by year four.

The earnings decline could signal graduates moving to part-time work, switching careers, or encountering a limited local job market in Fort Smith. Whatever the cause, the compressed sample makes it impossible to know if this pattern is real or just a statistical fluke. That uncertainty is exactly what should worry you—without more data, you're making a financial decision based on potentially unreliable information. If your child is set on Fort Smith for personal reasons, the debt load won't be crushing, but look hard at NorthWest Arkansas Community College or Arkansas Tech if allied health is the goal and you want more predictable returns.