Do you want a career that is both financially and personally rewarding? Consider healthcare professions. With more and more new diseases surfacing and old ones that usually target older adults now also targeting younger adults, the need for allied health professionals is growing at unprecedented levels.

The financial and personal rewards of being an allied health professional depend on your choices of where and what you study. You need to carefully and thoroughly research colleges and degree programs to get the best return on investment. Remember that education is not one-size-fits-all, which means what might be rewarding for others might do the complete opposite for you.

So, what should you do first? Well, research the best value allied health degrees. In this article, we will list the 10 top allied health degrees that can provide you with the following benefits:

• Affordability
• Credibility
• Flexibility

Are you ready for the best value allied health degrees? We’ll first discuss what allied health professionals are so you can understand the scope of these careers.

Related:

• Top Public Health Degrees for Job Stability and Income Potential
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• Top Respiratory Therapy Online Bachelor’s
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What Are Allied Health Professions?

Healthcare careers are definitely one of the best options for a stable, well-paying career. However, not everyone is cut out to become a nurse, a doctor, or anyone who handles blood and other medical procedures.

This is where allied health professions come in.

So, what exactly are they?

The Allied Health Professions (AHPs) represent the second largest health and social care clinical workforce. In fact, AHPs compromise 60% of the U.S. healthcare workforce!

AHPs provide comprehensive, system-wide care, including assessment, treatment, diagnosis, and discharge of patients. They operate autonomously, which means that they can assess and treat patients. Some examples of top allied health professions include:

• Medical Assisting
• Health Information Management
• Radiologic Technology
• Respiratory Therapy
• Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)
• Physical Therapy Assisting (PTA)
• Nutrition and Dietetics

But why is the field so competitive and in demand? The answer is simple. The number of people looking for medical services has significantly increased.

With today’s lavish and carefree lifestyle, many people experience medical conditions that they are not supposed to experience at their age. What does this mean for allied health professions? More workload and demand equates to fewer chances of unemployment.

Criteria for Selecting a Best-Value Allied Health Degree

We cannot stress this enough: your degree’s return on investment will depend on your choices. There are several claims for “affordable allied health programs,” but are they all really valuable? I don’t think so.

To make sure that you get the highest ROI possible, here are the most important things to consider:

• Affordability: Private colleges tend to be more expensive, but they often offer more financial aid. On the other hand, public colleges are generally cheaper, though out-of-state students may face higher tuition fees.
• Accreditation and Program Quality: Accreditation can be regional or national. It ensures that the college meets educational standards, which can impact the value of your degree and future career opportunities.
• Job Outlook and Earning Potential: Ask yourself first where you want to live and establish a career and look into what allied health professions are most in demand and highly paid.
• Learning Format: There are three ways you can pursue an allied health degree:
• On-campus requires travel and structured learning.
• Online offers more flexibility and are often self-paced.
• Hybrid combines in-person and online classes for flexible learning.

Top 10 Best Value Degrees in Allied Health Professions

It’s time to explore the top-rated high ROI healthcare degrees for an allied health profession.

1. Associate Degree in Medical Assisting

Medical assisting is one of the best healthcare careers for students, as it can be accomplished in as few as two years. The expected job growth for medical assisting positions is 15 percent over the decade, with average annual salaries of $42,000. This could increase as you gain more experience and certificates.

Top Colleges:

• Charter College
• Bryan University
• Herzing University

2. Bachelor’s in Health Information Management

Healthcare today is heavily reliant on the use of technology, which is why there’s a 32% demand for healthcare data professionals. But for you to participate in this field, you need to earn at least a Bachelor’s in Health Information Management. You can work in both hospitals and insurance companies.

Top accredited allied health programs for healthcare data positions:

• Purdue Global
• Western Governors University
• University of Arizona Global Campus

3. Associate Degree in Radiologic Technology

With an average annual salary of $76,020 and a growth rate of 5%, an associate degree in radiologic technology is a great choice. For higher pay, you can also specialize in fields like MRI or CT scanning.

It’s not hard to find online allied health degrees for a radiologic technology position, as there are several accredited programs across the country. Some of the top include:

• The College of Healthcare Professionals
• Keiser University
• ECPI University

4. Bachelor’s in Respiratory Therapy

One of the increasing health issues is respiratory failure, which is why the increase of professions in critical care and pulmonology has grown rapidly. There are about 8,200 openings annually, so it’s best to pursue a degree in one of the top schools like:

• University of Mary
• University of Cincinnati
• Texas State University

5. Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Degree

Occupational therapy assisting is a great entry point into the field of occupational therapy, with an affordable education that can lead to high job growth. OTA programs are offered at many community colleges, making them a cost-effective option for those entering the healthcare field.

Here are some of the best value allied health degrees for an OTA career:

• St. Catherine University
• Casper College
• Maricopa Community Colleges

6. Bachelor’s in Public Health

If you want to participate in one of the broader and fastest-growing allied health careers, we highly recommend getting a Bachelor’s in Public Health. This degree will train you for various positions in healthcare administration, policy, and education.

Some of the top online and affordable program options are offered by:

• National University
• Walden University
• Capella University

7. Associate Degree in Physical Therapy Assisting (PTA)

PTA positions support physical therapists in helping patients recover from injuries and disabilities. With a 19 percent growth rate from 2023-33, this makes it a promising career path. Graduates of PTA programs can find work in outpatient clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes.

Here are some of the top affordable healthcare education to become a PTA:

• South University
• ECPI University
• LaGuardia Community College

8. Bachelor’s in Diagnostic Medical Sonography

On average, diagnostic medical sonographers make $80,850 each year. Given that it typically requires a four-year degree, this is considered a high earning potential in the field. Additionally, there are about 9,400 job openings each year, providing excellent opportunities for career advancement.

Top providers for Bachelor’s in Diagnostic Medical Sonography:

• Rutgers School of Health Professions
• Bellevue College
• Loma Linda University

9. Bachelor’s in Clinical Laboratory Science

Clinical laboratory scientists play a key role in diagnosing and treating diseases by analyzing blood, tissues, and other samples. With a bachelor’s in clinical laboratory science, you can work in hospitals, research labs, and biotech firms. There are 24,200 openings each year, particularly in response to advances in genetic testing and personalized medicine.

These are the top recommended schools:

• University of Texas
• Western Illinois University
• Miami Dade College

10. Bachelor’s in Nutrition and Dietetics

A lot of people are becoming more interested in having a healthy lifestyle, which has raised the demand for nutritionist dietitians by over 6%. To work in hospitals, wellness centers, schools, and private practices, you need to earn a Bachelor’s in Nutrition and Dietetics.

Here are a few schools worth exploring:

• University of Arizona
• NYU Steinhardt
• Northern Illinois University

How to Choose the Right Allied Health Degree for You

As with anything in healthcare, selecting the best colleges for allied health careers necessitates consideration of

• What you want to do: Make sure the program focuses on the field you’re interested in.
• Where you want to work: Consider the types of places you’d like to work, like hospitals or clinics, and check if the school offers experience in those settings.

Also, look at things like the school’s reputation, financial aid, accreditation, the quality of the teachers, and what kind of career support they provide after you graduate.

Conclusion

Allied health professions offer a variety of career options with affordable, practical degrees. Whether you want to work with patients or behind the scenes, there’s likely a degree for you. These programs can offer you good pay, job growth, and a solid return on investment.

So start now. Look for accredited schools, explore financial aid, and get ready to start your rewarding healthcare career!