Location: Palatine, IL•In-State Tuition: $3,822•Out-of-State Tuition: $11,802
Median Earnings (1yr)
$64,113
87th percentile
80th percentile in Illinois
Median Debt
$11,159
21% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.17 ManageableSample: 18 graduates Limited data

Analysis

Harper College graduates from this allied health certificate program earn remarkably well—$64,113 just one year out puts them far ahead of typical outcomes both nationally (87th percentile) and within Illinois (80th percentile). That's $16,000 more than the Illinois median and nearly $20,000 above the national benchmark for these programs. Among the 41 Illinois schools offering this credential, only College of DuPage comes close to Harper's earning outcomes.

The debt picture is reasonable at $11,159, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.17—meaning graduates owe roughly two months' salary. While this debt level sits at the 70th percentile nationally (meaning 30% of similar programs have lower debt), it's actually below Illinois's median of $12,000. The tradeoff between slightly higher debt and substantially higher earnings clearly favors Harper.

The major caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances heavily influence these averages. A few high earners could be skewing the numbers upward. However, the consistency of Harper's performance—ranking in the top 20% both statewide and nationally—suggests genuine program strength rather than statistical noise. For parents whose child has aptitude for allied health fields and wants to stay near Chicago's northwest suburbs, this certificate offers a compelling fast track to above-average earnings with manageable debt.

Where William Rainey Harper College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions certificate's programs nationally

William Rainey Harper CollegeOther allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How William Rainey Harper College graduates compare to all programs nationally

William Rainey Harper College earns $64k — 87th percentile among allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions certificate programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions certificate's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (41 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
William Rainey Harper CollegePalatine$3,822$64,113—$11,1590.17
College of DuPageGlen Ellyn$4,320$53,537—$11,4480.21
Lincoln Land Community CollegeSpringfield$3,672$51,602$45,756$11,1490.22
Midwestern Career CollegeChicago—$44,964$39,327$18,4170.41
Prairie State CollegeChicago Heights$4,176$35,362—$13,2090.37
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X CollegeChicago$4,380$28,481—$13,6790.48
National Median—$45,746—$14,1670.31

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions graduates

Medical Dosimetrists

Generate radiation treatment plans, develop radiation dose calculations, communicate and supervise the treatment plan implementation, and consult with members of radiation oncology team.

$138,110/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Physician Assistants

Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.

$133,260/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Anesthesiologist Assistants

Assist anesthesiologists in the administration of anesthesia for surgical and non-surgical procedures. Monitor patient status and provide patient care during surgical treatment.

$133,260/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Nuclear Technicians

Assist nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, or other scientists in laboratory, power generation, or electricity production activities. May operate, maintain, or provide quality control for nuclear testing and research equipment. May monitor radiation.

$104,240/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Nuclear Monitoring Technicians

Collect and test samples to monitor results of nuclear experiments and contamination of humans, facilities, and environment.

$104,240/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Radiation Therapists

Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiation oncologist according to established practices and standards. Duties may include reviewing prescription and diagnosis; acting as liaison with physician and supportive care personnel; preparing equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, and protection devices; and maintaining records, reports, and files. May assist in dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.

$101,990/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

Prepare, administer, and measure radioactive isotopes in therapeutic, diagnostic, and tracer studies using a variety of radioisotope equipment. Prepare stock solutions of radioactive materials and calculate doses to be administered by radiologists. Subject patients to radiation. Execute blood volume, red cell survival, and fat absorption studies following standard laboratory techniques.

$97,020/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians. Includes vascular technologists.

$89,340/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Respiratory Therapists

Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.

$80,450/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

Take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Includes radiologic technologists and technicians who specialize in other scanning modalities.

$78,980/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists

Operate Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners. Monitor patient safety and comfort, and view images of area being scanned to ensure quality of pictures. May administer gadolinium contrast dosage intravenously. May interview patient, explain MRI procedures, and position patient on examining table. May enter into the computer data such as patient history, anatomical area to be scanned, orientation specified, and position of entry.

$78,980/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At William Rainey Harper College, approximately 20% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 18 graduates with reported earnings and 23 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.