Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Community College of Denver

Community College of Denver's dental support program launches graduates into impressive first-year earnings of $76,712—well above both the national median ($55,016) and the state median ($65,693). However, the $29,472 in median debt is notably higher than typical for this field, and more concerning is where earnings go from there: down to $62,109 by year four, a 19% drop that reverses the trajectory you'd hope to see.

This earnings decline matters because it suggests graduates may be entering the workforce in higher-paying roles they don't sustain long-term, perhaps as temporary positions or in specializations where opportunities thin out. While the 60th percentile ranking among Colorado's six dental programs is respectable, the state's top program (Concorde Career College-Aurora) achieves similar four-year earnings at $65,693—close to where CCD graduates land after their initial earnings fade.

The math still works out favorably: even with elevated debt, the 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates earn more than twice what they owe in their first year. But families should understand they're paying premium prices for outcomes that settle into the middle of Colorado's dental support market. If your child can access one of the state's lower-debt alternatives, that might provide comparable career positioning with less financial pressure.