Allied Health Diagnostic at Tidewater Community College

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

enrolling 11,797 students in Norfolk, VA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $42,572 place Tidewater Community College below the $52,503 national median for Allied Health Diagnostic — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 77.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Allied Health Diagnostic programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Allied Health Diagnostic's career paths, with 28% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $42,572 far exceeding the $7,225 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #399 of 811 Allied Health Diagnostic programs, Tidewater Community College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Allied Health Diagnostic offers 8 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

66 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
63
Low End
66
Score
67
High End
Earnings $42,572/yr (-19% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (124,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$445K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
77.9x
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)
$5,714
Out-of-state: $11,717
Median Debt at Graduation
$7,225
2.0 months of Year 1 earnings

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 Tidewater Community College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Tidewater Community College's Allied Health Diagnostic program score?
This program scores 66/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Allied Health Diagnostic graduates.
How affordable is Allied Health Diagnostic at Tidewater Community College?
Median debt of just $7,225 against $42,572/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.
Why are Allied Health Diagnostic earnings lower at Tidewater Community College?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Can I learn Allied Health Diagnostic through an apprenticeship instead?
Allied Health Diagnostic connects to 8 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
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 →