Allied Health Diagnostic at Des Moines Area Community College

Ankeny, IA · Public · Certificate · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

serving 10,406 students in Ankeny, IA.

Program Analysis

Des Moines Area Community College's Allied Health Diagnostic program produces graduates earning $45,688/yr — within striking distance of the $52,503 national average for this trade.

With a 86.1x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 0% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Allied Health Diagnostic career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $7,500 in median debt clears fast against $45,688 in annual earnings.

A #318 ranking among 811 Allied Health Diagnostic programs places Des Moines Area Community College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The 8 apprenticeship pathways connected to Allied Health Diagnostic reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

68 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
65
Low End
68
Score
69
High End
Earnings $45,688/yr (-13% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (124,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$478K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
86.1x
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)
$5,550
Out-of-state: $11,100
Median Debt at Graduation
$7,500
2.0 months of Year 1 earnings

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 Des Moines Area Community College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Allied Health Diagnostic at Des Moines Area Community College?
A score of 68/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Allied Health Diagnostic field.
How affordable is Allied Health Diagnostic at Des Moines Area Community College?
At $7,500 in median debt, Allied Health Diagnostic graduates from Des Moines Area Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Allied Health Diagnostic graduates?
There are 8 registered apprenticeships connected to Allied Health Diagnostic occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
How many job openings are there for Allied Health Diagnostic graduates?
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 →