Allied Health Diagnostic at Laurel Ridge Community College

Middletown, VA · Public · Certificate · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

a smaller institution with 3,167 students in Middletown, VA.

Program Analysis

At $36,165 per year, Allied Health Diagnostic graduates from Laurel Ridge Community College earn below the $52,503 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The 122.5x 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 39% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Allied Health Diagnostic graduates.

The median debt load of $5,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #370 out of 811 programs, Laurel Ridge Community College's Allied Health Diagnostic offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $36,165 to $55,825 over five years (54% increase) indicates that graduates in this trade see meaningful salary progression.

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

67 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
59
Low End
67
Score
67
High End
Earnings $36,165/yr (-31% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (124,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$618K
11.5% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
125.5x
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)
$4,928
Out-of-state: $10,931
Median Debt at Graduation
$5,500
1.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,825
54% 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 Laurel Ridge 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

What does a 67/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Allied Health Diagnostic at Laurel Ridge Community College?
A score of 67/100 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 Laurel Ridge Community College?
Median debt of just $5,500 against $36,165/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Can you still earn well with Allied Health Diagnostic from Laurel Ridge Community College?
Lower starting pay at Laurel Ridge 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.
What's the AI uncertainty for Allied Health Diagnostic careers?
Our model shows a 39% gap between best and worst-case decade earnings. AI is unlikely to eliminate Allied Health Diagnostic careers, but it could reduce positions in some specializations.
How many job openings are there for Allied Health Diagnostic graduates?
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 →