Allied Health Diagnostic at Mercy College of Health Sciences

Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit · Associate Degree · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

With 99% of applicants admitted, Mercy College of Health Sciences prioritizes broad access, with a smaller student body of 905 in Des Moines, IA.

Program Analysis

At $55,912 per year, Allied Health Diagnostic graduates from Mercy College of Health Sciences earn slightly above the $52,503 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 16.9x 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.

The median debt load of $19,614 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

At #636 out of 811 programs, Mercy College of Health Sciences's financial outcomes for Allied Health Diagnostic trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

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

56 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
52
Low End
56
Score
56
High End
Earnings $55,912/yr (6% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (124,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings
$56K
Reported median after graduation
Earnings Multiple
16.9x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
19 of 19
Occupations with strong AI resilience
Program Tuition
$34,656
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,614
4.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,255
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 Mercy College of Health Sciences

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 Mercy College of Health Sciences's Allied Health Diagnostic program score?
This program scores 56/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Allied Health Diagnostic programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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?
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 →