Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Concorde Career Institute-Tampa

Starting salaries for dental assistants aren't high anywhere, but Concorde Career Institute-Tampa graduates are earning about $2,500 more than the typical Florida program in this field—landing them in the 60th percentile statewide. At $27,152 in year one, these earnings beat both state and national medians, though they still trail top performers like Daytona State College and Meridian College by several thousand dollars.

The debt load of $9,500 is manageable relative to first-year earnings, creating a debt-to-income ratio of 0.35 that most students can handle. More encouraging is the 17% earnings growth by year four, pushing median pay to $31,850—a trajectory that suggests steady career progression rather than stagnation. With 70% of students receiving Pell grants, this program appears to serve as a viable entry point into healthcare for lower-income students.

The reality check: dental support roles rarely lead to high-paying careers, regardless of where you train. Concorde delivers slightly above-average results at average cost, which represents reasonable value for a quick-credential program. If your child is certain about this career path and prefers Tampa's job market, this program works. But if flexibility matters, community colleges like Daytona State offer better earning potential at similar or lower cost.