Allied Health Diagnostic at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Perkinston, MS · Public · Associate Degree · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

serving 6,231 students in Perkinston, MS.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $41,228 place Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College below the $52,503 national median for Allied Health Diagnostic — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

With a 59.5x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 9% 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.

With first-year pay of $41,228 far exceeding the $10,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #492 ranking among 811 Allied Health Diagnostic programs places Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The limited growth from $41,228 to $46,422 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

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

62 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
59
Low End
62
Score
63
High End
Earnings $41,228/yr (-21% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (124,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$473K
3.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
59.9x
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)
$7,900
Out-of-state: $14,500
Median Debt at Graduation
$10,500
3.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,422
13% 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 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Explore the Degree Alternative

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College's Allied Health Diagnostic program score?
At 62/100, the score looks reasonable — but Allied Health Diagnostic is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
What's the typical debt for Allied Health Diagnostic graduates from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College?
Median debt of just $10,500 against $41,228/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Why are Allied Health Diagnostic earnings lower at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College?
Starting salary is one data point. If Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Can I learn Allied Health Diagnostic through an apprenticeship instead?
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.
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 →