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Allied Health Diagnostic at Mountain Empire Community College

Big Stone Gap, VA · Public · Associate Degree · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

a smaller institution with 1,240 students in Big Stone Gap, VA.

Program Analysis

At $58,346 per year, Allied Health Diagnostic graduates from Mountain Empire Community College earn slightly above the $52,503 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 62.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 28% task exposure — and the 0% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Allied Health Diagnostic graduates.

Ranked #340 out of 811 programs, Mountain Empire Community College's Allied Health Diagnostic offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

With 8 registered apprenticeships mapped to Allied Health Diagnostic, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

TradeSchoolOutlook Score

Low End

Score

High End

Earnings $58,346/yr (11% vs median)

AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)

Job Market Very Large (124,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings

$58K

Reported median after graduation

Earnings Multiple (In-State)

62.8x

10-year earnings ÷ tuition

Viable Career Paths

19 of 19

Occupations with strong AI resilience

Program Tuition (In-State)

$9,726

Out-of-state: $21,732

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$56,211

Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

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 Mountain Empire Community College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Mountain Empire Community College's Allied Health Diagnostic program score?

A score of 68/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Allied Health Diagnostic field.

Can I learn Allied Health Diagnostic through an apprenticeship instead?

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.

Is there demand for Allied Health Diagnostic workers?

The career paths mapped to Allied Health Diagnostic have roughly 124,000 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.

Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →