Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Clark College

Clark College's dental support program produces above-average national earnings—graduates earn more than 73% of similar programs nationwide—but sits in the middle of the pack for Washington state. At $64,500 starting, graduates earn about $3,500 less than the state median for this field. That gap matters in a state where top programs like Lake Washington Institute of Technology produce earnings above $77,000. Still, the debt load is reasonable at $23,429, translating to a 0.36 debt-to-earnings ratio that most families would consider manageable.

The flat earnings trajectory raises a practical concern: graduates see essentially no income growth between years one and four. This suggests the program may lead to positions with limited advancement potential, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means this pattern might not hold with more data. The 22% Pell grant rate indicates Clark serves a relatively affluent student body compared to typical community colleges.

For Washington families, this represents a serviceable but not exceptional option in dental support fields. The debt burden won't be crushing, and starting earnings exceed national norms. However, if your child can access one of the higher-earning state programs, the $10,000-$13,000 salary premium would compound significantly over a career. Treat these numbers cautiously given the limited sample, but unless location or specific program features make Clark the clear choice, exploring alternatives makes financial sense.