Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Virginia Highlands Community College

Virginia Highlands Community College's allied health program punches well above its weight class, delivering $62,422 in first-year earnings—nearly 50% more than Virginia's median for similar programs. Among the 24 schools offering this credential in Virginia, it ranks in the 80th percentile, outperforming much larger institutions and sitting just behind Bon Secours St Mary's specialized medical imaging program. Nationally, it lands in the 84th percentile, putting it ahead of roughly 840 other allied health certificate programs.

The debt picture makes this particularly compelling: at $9,500, graduates carry about $1,600 less than the Virginia median and roughly $4,700 less than the national average. That 0.15 debt-to-earnings ratio means students typically repay their entire investment in under two months of work—exceptional for any health credential. With 42% of students receiving Pell grants, this program appears to serve working-class students effectively while positioning them for middle-class earnings.

For Virginia families looking at allied health careers, this represents one of the strongest values in the state. The combination of top-quintile earnings, below-average debt, and community college accessibility makes it a straightforward win for students serious about clinical work.