Allied Health Diagnostic at Columbia State Community College

Columbia, TN · Public · Certificate · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

a compact campus enrolling 3,679 students in Columbia, TN.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $51,093/yr, roughly in line with the $52,503 national median for Allied Health Diagnostic. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 112.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Allied Health Diagnostic programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Allied Health Diagnostic's career paths, with 28% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 3% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $51,093 far exceeding the $5,375 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #195 of 811 nationally, this is a top-5% Allied Health Diagnostic program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $54,625 are relatively flat compared to the $51,093 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

Allied Health Diagnostic offers 8 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

72 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
69
Low End
72
Score
73
High End
Earnings $51,093/yr (-3% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (124,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$551K
1.7% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
112.5x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
19 of 19
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$4,904
Out-of-state: $18,104
Median Debt at Graduation
$5,375
1.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,625
7% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Allied Health Diagnostic graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Medical dosimetrists $138,110 +3.5% 55%
Physician assistants $133,260 +20.4% 83%
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620 +17.3% 52%
Medical dosimetrists
$138,110
+3.5% growth 55% AI-proof
Physician assistants
$133,260
+20.4% growth 83% AI-proof
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
$105,620
+17.3% growth 52% AI-proof

View all 19 career paths with full salary data →

About Allied Health Diagnostic Careers

Your career in allied health puts you at the center of patient care. One day you might be a radiologic technologist, carefully positioning a patient for a CT scan and operating advanced imaging equipment to help diagnose an injury. With further training, you could become a physician assistant, working alongside a doctor to examine patients, diagnose conditions, and create comprehensive treatment plans in a busy clinic.

Read the full Allied Health Diagnostic career guide →

Compare & Explore

Allied Health Diagnostic Overview

Allied Health Diagnostic at Other Schools

Other Majors at Columbia State Community College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 72/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Allied Health Diagnostic at Columbia State Community College?
At 72/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
How affordable is Allied Health Diagnostic at Columbia State Community College?
Median debt of just $5,375 against $51,093/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 1 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Is Columbia State Community College one of the best schools for Allied Health Diagnostic?
Among 811 Allied Health Diagnostic programs, Columbia State Community College's #195 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Allied Health Diagnostic graduates?
Allied Health Diagnostic connects to 8 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
Is there demand for Allied Health Diagnostic workers?
With approximately 124,000 annual openings across mapped careers, Allied Health Diagnostic offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →