Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Centura College-Virginia Beach

Centura College-Virginia Beach's dental support certificate lands right at Virginia's median for earnings, performing better than 60% of similar programs statewide—a meaningful distinction when several in-state alternatives deliver lower returns. The $24,569 first-year salary covers the modest $9,500 in debt quickly, with graduates needing less than five months of earnings to repay. That's manageable leverage for a short credential that serves the school's predominantly low-income student population (71% receive Pell grants).

The concern is what happens after that first year: earnings essentially flatline at $24,063 by year four. This suggests many graduates max out their earning potential quickly in assistant roles without clear advancement paths. Compare this to Danville Community College, where similar graduates earn $28,405—a $4,000 annual premium that compounds significantly over a career. You're looking at entry-level dental assistant wages that may not grow substantially without additional credentials.

For a family needing the shortest path to employment, this program offers immediate job placement at a price that won't bury your child in debt. But if your student can handle a two-year associate degree instead, or if Danville is geographically feasible, those options would provide better long-term earnings potential for roughly the same debt load.