Allied Health Diagnostic at Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, IA · Public · Associate Degree · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

serving 7,438 students in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Program Analysis

Kirkwood Community College's Allied Health Diagnostic program produces graduates earning $52,364/yr — within striking distance of the $52,503 national average for this trade.

The 49.5x 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 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Allied Health Diagnostic graduates.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $15,788 in median debt clears fast against $52,364 in annual earnings.

At #435 out of 811 programs, Kirkwood Community College's financial outcomes for Allied Health Diagnostic trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth is modest: $52,364 to $58,566 over five years (12% gain). This trade may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

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

64 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
61
Low End
64
Score
64
High End
Earnings $52,364/yr (-0% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (124,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$596K
2.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
49.8x
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)
$11,960
Out-of-state: $15,936
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,788
3.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,566
12% 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 Kirkwood 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

How does Kirkwood Community College's Allied Health Diagnostic program score?
At 64/100, 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 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.
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 →