Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Carrington College-Phoenix North

Carrington College-Phoenix North sits right at Arizona's median for dental support programs—earning $26,485 versus the state median of exactly $26,485—but finishes behind the state's top performers by roughly $3,000 annually. That gap might not sound dramatic, but when you're starting at sub-$30,000, it adds up. The program does edge out the national median by about $1,200, suggesting Arizona's dental market offers slightly better wages than many states, though programs like Pima Medical Institute consistently deliver 10-13% higher earnings for graduates.

The financial picture is manageable but uninspiring. At $8,933 in debt—below both state and national medians—students face monthly payments around $100, consuming roughly 4% of take-home pay. That's workable, though barely. Earnings creep up 6% by year four, reaching $28,072, which suggests modest career progression rather than real advancement. With 55% of students receiving Pell grants, many here need this to work on a tight budget.

For families choosing among Arizona's 18 dental support programs, this represents a safe middle ground: you won't graduate with crushing debt, but you're leaving money on the table compared to Pima's campuses. If location or scheduling makes Carrington the most practical option, it won't derail your finances. But if you can access one of the higher-earning programs without significantly more debt, that extra $3,000 annually compounds over a career.