Dental Support Services and Allied Professions: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 80 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$14,674 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
10.6 yrsModeled economic break-even
−6%Modeled 10-year ROI
$68,205Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$68,205Median reported earnings · year 4
$63,163Average reported earnings · year 5
$25,000Median federal debt
59thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
80Reporting programs
76With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $34,006
- Federal debt
- $9,500
- Reporting programs
- 375
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $64,564
- Federal debt
- $19,309
- Reporting programs
- 243
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $68,205
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Reporting programs
- 80
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $68,496
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$63,364National median$68,20575th percentile$74,347
76 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1College of Southern Nevada$92,7622University of Southern California$91,7263University of the Pacific$86,1504West Coast University-Texas$85,7975West Coast University-Anaheim-Orange County$85,7976Lake Washington Institute of Technology$85,2867Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences$83,2538Foothill College$82,0289Community College of Denver$81,89610University of Hawaii at Manoa$79,863Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1071 · 3 crosswalk linksDental AssistantsSOC 31-9091 · 1 crosswalk linksDental HygienistsSOC 29-1292 · 1 crosswalk linksDental Laboratory TechniciansSOC 51-9081 · 1 crosswalk linksNO MATCHSOC 99-9999 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | College of Southern NevadaBachelor's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $92,762 | Not available | +131% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | University of Southern CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $91,726 | $31,250 | +50% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | University of the PacificBachelor's Degree | Stockton, CA | $86,150 | Not available | +46% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | West Coast University-TexasBachelor's Degree | Richardson, TX | $85,797 | $36,134 | +4% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | West Coast University-Anaheim-Orange CountyBachelor's Degree | Anaheim, CA | $85,797 | $36,134 | +31% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Lake Washington Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Kirkland, WA | $85,286 | $23,750 | +94% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $83,253 | $31,000 | +13% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Foothill CollegeBachelor's Degree | Los Altos Hills, CA | $82,028 | $17,285 | +76% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Community College of DenverBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $81,896 | Not available | +69% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | University of Hawaii at ManoaBachelor's Degree | Honolulu, HI | $79,863 | $30,345 | +44% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Loma Linda UniversityBachelor's Degree | Loma Linda, CA | $79,207 | $25,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 12 | Pacific UniversityBachelor's Degree | Forest Grove, OR | $78,641 | $28,375 | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityBachelor's Degree | Richmond, VA | $78,231 | $25,924 | +21% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | Oregon Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Klamath Falls, OR | $78,089 | $25,880 | +36% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | West Virginia UniversityBachelor's Degree | Morgantown, WV | $76,662 | $26,121 | +31% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $76,078 | $23,829 | +26% | Positive payoff |
| 17 | Eastern Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cheney, WA | $75,533 | $25,000 | +30% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | University of BridgeportBachelor's Degree | Bridgeport, CT | $74,822 | $26,000 | +2% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | University of New EnglandBachelor's Degree | Biddeford, ME | $74,504 | $27,000 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Midwestern State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Wichita Falls, TX | $74,347 | $19,500 | +29% | Positive payoff |
| 21 | University of Maryland BaltimoreBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $74,215 | $21,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 22 | Herzing University-MinneapolisBachelor's Degree | St. Louis Park, MN | $73,741 | $35,117 | +17% | Positive payoff |
| 23 | Herzing University-MadisonBachelor's Degree | Madison, WI | $73,741 | $35,117 | +7% | Positive payoff |
| 24 | University of New HavenBachelor's Degree | West Haven, CT | $73,231 | $24,718 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Metropolitan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $73,027 | $27,000 | +13% | Positive payoff |
| 26 | Minnesota State University-MankatoBachelor's Degree | Mankato, MN | $72,882 | $27,000 | +9% | Positive payoff |
| 27 | University of North Carolina at Chapel HillBachelor's Degree | Chapel Hill, NC | $72,567 | $15,431 | +22% | Positive payoff |
| 28 | Clark CollegeBachelor's Degree | Vancouver, WA | $72,300 | $23,429 | +21% | Positive payoff |
| 29 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San AntonioBachelor's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $71,120 | $23,296 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 30 | Farmingdale State CollegeBachelor's Degree | Farmingdale, NY | $70,853 | $15,528 | +16% | Positive payoff |
| 31 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $70,132 | $21,000 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Old Dominion UniversityBachelor's Degree | Norfolk, VA | $69,732 | $21,378 | +4% | Positive payoff |
| 33 | University of Nebraska Medical CenterBachelor's Degree | Omaha, NE | $69,031 | $25,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 34 | Northern Arizona UniversityBachelor's Degree | Flagstaff, AZ | $68,917 | $26,169 | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 35 | University of Southern IndianaBachelor's Degree | Evansville, IN | $68,825 | $20,500 | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 36 | Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleBachelor's Degree | Carbondale, IL | $68,609 | $27,000 | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 37 | University of South DakotaBachelor's Degree | Vermillion, SD | $68,556 | $27,000 | -9% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Siena Heights UniversityBachelor's Degree | Adrian, MI | $68,392 | Not available | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences CenterBachelor's Degree | Oklahoma City, OK | $68,018 | $20,990 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 40 | University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusBachelor's Degree | Norman, OK | $68,018 | $20,990 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | University of WyomingBachelor's Degree | Laramie, WY | $67,927 | $16,542 | -2% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New OrleansBachelor's Degree | New Orleans, LA | $67,665 | $25,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 43 | University of New Mexico-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | $67,561 | $20,378 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Indiana University-NorthwestBachelor's Degree | Gary, IN | $67,468 | $25,000 | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 45 | Texas Woman's UniversityBachelor's Degree | Denton, TX | $66,034 | $24,601 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $65,920 | $25,500 | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | University of Arkansas for Medical SciencesBachelor's Degree | Little Rock, AR | $65,708 | $23,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 48 | East Tennessee State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Johnson City, TN | $65,649 | $15,687 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | University of Arkansas-Fort SmithBachelor's Degree | Fort Smith, AR | $65,470 | $24,625 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Yakima Valley CollegeBachelor's Degree | Yakima, WA | $65,179 | Not available | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $64,980 | $23,475 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 52 | Pennsylvania College of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Williamsport, PA | $64,919 | $28,383 | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | University of Missouri-Kansas CityBachelor's Degree | Kansas City, MO | $64,838 | $27,000 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Georgia Highlands CollegeBachelor's Degree | Rome, GA | $64,541 | Not available | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | St Petersburg CollegeBachelor's Degree | St. Petersburg, FL | $63,700 | $22,911 | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 56 | Ferris State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Big Rapids, MI | $63,582 | $17,500 | -13% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | Clayton State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Morrow, GA | $63,402 | $25,000 | -14% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | University of Detroit MercyBachelor's Degree | Detroit, MI | $63,364 | $23,593 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Idaho State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pocatello, ID | $62,783 | $23,675 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | University of LouisvilleBachelor's Degree | Louisville, KY | $62,595 | $26,380 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Youngstown State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Youngstown, OH | $62,099 | $25,000 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | University of Louisiana at MonroeBachelor's Degree | Monroe, LA | $62,089 | $19,000 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Vermont State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Randolph, VT | $61,991 | Not available | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | Wichita State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Wichita, KS | $61,982 | $26,817 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | The University of Tennessee Health Science CenterBachelor's Degree | Memphis, TN | $61,981 | $25,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 66 | West Liberty UniversityBachelor's Degree | West Liberty, WV | $61,801 | $27,000 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Augusta UniversityBachelor's Degree | Augusta, GA | $61,584 | $16,750 | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | Indiana University-South BendBachelor's Degree | South Bend, IN | $61,436 | $26,500 | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $60,778 | Not available | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $59,402 | $26,521 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Western Kentucky UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bowling Green, KY | $57,958 | $23,199 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Purdue University Fort WayneBachelor's Degree | Fort Wayne, IN | $57,814 | $25,082 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | University of MississippiBachelor's Degree | University, MS | $54,022 | $22,875 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | Utah Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint George, UT | $48,576 | $12,450 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | Careers UnlimitedBachelor's Degree | Orem, UT | $44,722 | $32,795 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 76 | Weber State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ogden, UT | $37,694 | $21,912 | -133% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Indiana University-IndianapolisBachelor's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | Not available | $26,168 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $11,668 |
| 78 | Regis CollegeBachelor's Degree | Weston, MA | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $27,477 |
| 79 | Utah Valley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orem, UT | Not available | $12,840 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $6,376 |
| 80 | Columbia Basin CollegeBachelor's Degree | Pasco, WA | Not available | $25,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $8,317 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.