Allied Health Diagnostic at Southern Union State Community College

Wadley, AL · Public · Associate Degree · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

a smaller institution with 3,888 students in Wadley, AL.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $37,835/yr fall 28% below the $52,503 national median for Allied Health Diagnostic. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

With a 48.4x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 19% 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.

A #610 ranking among 811 Allied Health Diagnostic programs places Southern Union State Community College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 24% earnings increase from $37,835 to $46,877 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

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

58 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
53
Low End
58
Score
58
High End
Earnings $37,835/yr (-28% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (124,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$487K
5.5% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
48.9x
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)
$9,960
Out-of-state: $17,580
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,877
24% 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 Southern Union State Community College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Southern Union State Community College's Allied Health Diagnostic program score?
At 58/100, 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.
Is Southern Union State Community College a good choice for Allied Health Diagnostic despite lower starting pay?
Lower starting pay at Southern Union State Community College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Can I learn Allied Health Diagnostic through an apprenticeship instead?
Yes — 8 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Allied Health Diagnostic career paths, including Computed Tomography (Ct) Technician. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
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 →