by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,637 U.S. colleges awarded 98,474 degrees and certificates in Allied Health Professions. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 35% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1,335 schools in its 2027 Best Allied Health Professions Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $68,190 one year after completing, rising to $77,808 after four years.
If you are interested in joining a career field that helps diagnose and treat specific medical problems, consider majoring in Allied Health Professions.
Allied Health professionals specialize in a specific area of the body or type of treatment to aid physicians in diagnosing and treating diseases. Students take classes in anatomy, microbiology, physiology, and health physics along with courses that are specific to the area of study you wish to pursue. Since Allied Health professionals work in a narrow niche of the medical world, you will spend most of your time taking classes that are pertinent to your concentration.
There are many areas students can specialize in. Some of the most popular are: Cardiovascular Technology, Emergency Medical Technology (EMT Paramedic), Medical Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Care Therapy, Surgical Technology, Diagnostic Medical Sonography and Ultrasound Technician, Radiological Technology, Physician Assistant, Athletic Training, and many others.
A degree in Allied Health Professions explores Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, And Treatment Professions.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., allied health professions draws strong interest, with 98,474 degrees awarded annually. 1,637 colleges award allied health professions degrees, an average of 60 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 827.
By level, the 98,474 awards include 12,338 certificates, 34,923 associate degrees, 8,007 bachelor’s degrees, 34,576 master’s degrees and 678 doctorates.
Women earned 65% of allied health professions degrees and certificates in the latest year (63,874 of 98,474). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (53,790) and Hispanic or Latino (21,713), and international students earned 674.
College Factual ranks 1,335 schools in its 2027 Best Allied Health Professions Schools ranking, including 740 for associate degrees, 197 for bachelor’s degrees, 341 for master’s degrees and 11 for doctorates. It also ranks allied health professions schools within 52 states. In all, 1,637 colleges offer allied health professions programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Allied Health Professions Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common allied health professions credential is the associate degree: 34,923 of the 98,474 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to allied health professions call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, Medicine and Dentistry and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
The Allied Health Professions major is rooted in science, making a background in biology, anatomy, and physiology helpful. Students who pursue this degree are strong critical and analytical thinkers since they must diagnose and devise a treatment plan for patients. Students also have strong communication and interpersonal skills as professionals interact daily with patients and must show compassion and understanding for people who are ill or concerned about procedures.
Allied Health professions are full time jobs in offices. Professionals usually work normal 40-hour workweeks, but may work holidays and weekends depending on the location of the job and medical emergencies.
Depending on the career path you intend to follow, you may only need an associate's degree to work in this field. However, you must be certified to practice. Certification requirements vary depending on the state, so it is best to research the requirements for the state you want to practice in.
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How long an allied health professions degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 12,338 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 34,923 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 8,007 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 34,576 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 678 |
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to allied health professions, at 24.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 24.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 15.9% |
| Master’s degree | 14.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 13.2% |
| Some college courses | 5.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 4.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.9% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
24 occupations are related to Allied Health Professions, with an average median salary of $88,973; the strongest outlook belongs to Anesthesiologist Assistants, at 15.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Medical Technologist, Polysomnographic Technologist, Vascular Technician and Perfusionist.
There are many unique specializations within the Allied Health Professions field leading graduates to find jobs at a variety of locations. Graduates typically find work at hospitals, medical diagnostic centers, physician offices, or specialized offices.
The occupation related to allied health professions with the most projected jobs is Respiratory Therapists, at 3,611,748.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Respiratory Therapists | 3,611,748 | 4.8% |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 3,388,429 | 3.2% |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | 3,384,397 | 13.3% |
| Patient Representatives | 3,368,169 | 4.8% |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | 3,206,816 | 12.2% |
| Emergency Medical Technicians | 3,168,873 | 14.6% |
| Medical Dosimetrists | 3,118,939 | 10.8% |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 2,908,248 | 9.4% |
Allied Health Professions graduates earn a median $68,190 one year after completing their program, $77,808 after four years and $70,516 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $68,190 |
| 4 years | $77,808 |
| 5 years | $70,516 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to allied health professions is Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other, with a median salary of $153,940.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $153,940 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | $153,819 |
| Surgical Assistants | $141,004 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $137,802 |
| Respiratory Therapists | $128,345 |
| Nuclear Medicine Technologists | $119,042 |
| Anesthesiologist Assistants | $116,229 |
| Nuclear Monitoring Technicians | $115,968 |
Allied Health Professions includes 22 concentrations that together award 98,474 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) (32,528), Physician Associate/Assistant (13,743) and Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer (13,037). It has 30 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 938,986 degrees a year; the largest are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (318,053), Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (110,132) and Health and Medical Administrative Services (89,005). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 318,053 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | 110,132 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 89,005 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | 84,315 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 45,445 |
| Public Health | 41,733 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 36,116 |
| Medicine | 30,805 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 28,906 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | 25,412 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
