Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at University of Southern Indiana

The standout issue here is the 18% earnings drop from year one to year four—from nearly $70,000 to $57,240. This suggests graduates may be landing in higher-paying specialized roles initially but then shifting into positions with less compensation, possibly due to job availability, burnout in demanding clinical settings, or the natural movement between different allied health specialties over time.

The financial fundamentals look solid: debt of $25,169 is below both the national and state median ($27,000), and that initial $69,965 salary means graduates start with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.36—manageable by any standard. The program ranks in the 60th percentile among Indiana's 18 allied health programs, performing reasonably well though not spectacularly, and sits in the 75th percentile nationally. However, even the four-year salary of $57,240 keeps debt serviceable, requiring roughly 44% of that first-year income to cover typical loan payments.

For parents, the question is whether that strong first year reflects genuine opportunity or an unsustainable entry point. The moderate sample size means this pattern could shift with more data, but the decline is substantial enough to warrant conversation about career trajectory. If your student is targeting a specific allied health specialty with clear advancement potential—rather than planning to sample different roles—this program offers reasonable debt and solid initial placement, just with uncertainty about where earnings settle long-term.