Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Flint Hills Technical College

Flint Hills Technical College graduates from this dental support program earn about 10% more than the national median for similar certificates, placing them in the 70th percentile nationwide. That's meaningful in a field where starting salaries around $27,000 are typical. The debt load of $8,847 is also manageable—roughly four months of first-year income—and slightly lower than the national norm.

What's harder to evaluate is whether these outcomes reflect the program's quality or just Kansas's dental job market. Among the four Kansas schools offering this credential, Flint Hills sits at the median for both earnings and debt, so there's no clear in-state advantage here. The modest 9% earnings growth to $30,000 by year four suggests this is a stable but not high-growth field. For context, that $30,000 at year four still trails many entry-level positions requiring no credential at all.

The real caveat: fewer than 30 graduates are included in this data, so individual outcomes could vary considerably. For a student certain about dental assisting or hygiene support roles, the low debt makes this a relatively low-risk option. But if your child is still exploring, recognize that $30,000 four years out is modest compensation, and the credential itself won't command premium wages in Kansas's market.