Health Professions and Related Programs — CIP 51.39 at SOWELA Technical Community College
LA · Associate's Degree · CIP 51.39
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Health Professions and Related Programs — CIP 51.39 degree from SOWELA Technical Community College earn a median salary of $44,445 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in LA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $48,153. The degree typically pays for itself in 17.3 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$33,481
Typical Career
$44,445
Top Performers
$55,758
Estimated break-even: 17.3 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$296
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,704. Most students can comfortably afford about a $296 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Louisiana buys what costs $0.92 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Manufacturing, Health Care & Social Assistance, Construction.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$48,153
Nominal: $44,445 in Louisiana (COL 92.3% of national avg) · 8.3% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $31,207 | $39,481 | $49,363 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $33,481 | $44,445 | $55,758 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $37,677 | $51,223 | $70,090 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $44,445 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in LA, which has a cost-of-living index of 92.3% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $44,445 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9230)
= $48,153 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for graduates predominantly include Manufacturing (33.8% and 28.8%) and Health Care & Social Assistance (17.1%), suggesting a diverse range of employment opportunities. However, the estimated break-even point of approximately 17.3 years compared to a high-school-only path indicates that while the program offers a solid return on investment, it may take considerable time for graduates to fully realize the financial benefits of their education. Overall, students should weigh these factors carefully when considering their career paths.
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Other Degrees at SOWELA Technical Community College
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.