Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Columbia Basin College

Columbia Basin College's dental support program shows strong first-year earnings at $70,534—outperforming the national median by more than $10,000 and landing in the 88th percentile nationally. The $25,000 in typical debt creates a manageable 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates earn nearly three times what they borrowed in their first year alone. This positions the program competitively in Washington, though it trails Lake Washington Institute of Technology's graduates by about $7,000.

The 60th percentile ranking within Washington is actually quite respectable given the state's strong performance in this field overall. Washington's median for dental support programs already exceeds the national figure by $8,000, so landing above the middle of that pack suggests solid preparation. The program matches both national and state debt levels almost exactly, avoiding the debt premium that sometimes accompanies specialized healthcare training.

The caveat here matters: with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, a few high or low earners could significantly skew these numbers. That said, the combination of strong national standing and reasonable debt makes this a sensible option for students interested in dental careers, particularly those who prefer staying in the Pacific Northwest where dental support professionals command higher salaries than in many other regions.