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

Virginia Western's allied health program offers a textbook example of reasonable debt paired with middle-of-the-road earnings potential. With just $12,000 in typical debt—well below both state and national averages—graduates face a manageable financial burden that represents only about 22% of their first-year salary. The challenge? Those first-year earnings of $54,480 land below Virginia's median for similar programs, placing this in the 40th percentile statewide.

The earnings picture tells an important story about location and specialization. While Virginia Western's graduates earn close to the national median, stronger programs at Northern Virginia Community College and Sentara College produce earnings 25-35% higher, suggesting that metropolitan areas or specific allied health specializations drive significantly better outcomes. The modest 6% earnings growth over four years is steady but unremarkable—you're essentially looking at cost-of-living adjustments rather than rapid career advancement.

For families, the math works but requires realistic expectations. The low debt load means graduates won't struggle with payments, and even middle-tier earnings in allied health beat many other associate degree paths. But if your student has options to attend programs in Northern Virginia or Hampton Roads, or can specialize in higher-paying areas like diagnostic imaging or respiratory therapy, those alternatives could deliver substantially better returns on the same two years of study.