Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at University of South Alabama

University of South Alabama graduates from this allied health program start strong at nearly $60,000 but see earnings slip to $57,000 by year four—an unusual trajectory for a healthcare field. While the program ranks in the 60th percentile among Alabama's 11 allied health programs, that's only middle-of-the-pack in a state where the top earner (Columbia Southern) sees graduates making $84,000. Nationally, these outcomes land right at the median, neither particularly impressive nor disappointing.

The financial picture, however, works decidedly in students' favor. At $29,000 in debt—just slightly above the state median but well below the national average—graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.5. That translates to manageable monthly payments even if earnings plateau or dip as the data suggests. For Alabama families, especially given that 37% of students receive Pell grants, this represents an affordable path into healthcare without the crushing debt burdens that plague many programs.

The earnings dip should prompt questions about career trajectories: are graduates moving into different roles, changing specialties, or working reduced hours? But the low debt load means graduates have breathing room to navigate these shifts. For parents weighing in-state options, this offers solid access to allied health careers without financial overextension, though academically stronger students might target programs with clearer upward earnings momentum.