Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Fortis College-Columbia

Fortis College-Columbia's dental assistant program sits squarely in the middle of the pack—ranking at the 40th percentile among South Carolina programs—with first-year earnings of $24,564 that trail York Technical College by about $850 annually. The debt load of $13,167 is manageable but slightly higher than both the state and national medians, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54 that most graduates can reasonably handle. With 74% of students receiving Pell grants, this program clearly serves students who need affordable pathways to healthcare careers.

The trajectory shows modest but steady improvement, with earnings climbing 12% to $27,591 by year four. That growth moves graduates closer to the national 75th percentile but doesn't dramatically change their financial position. For a one-year certificate program, these numbers represent stable employment rather than standout opportunity—graduates enter a reliable field with consistent work, though not particularly high pay.

The real question comes down to cost alternatives. York Technical College delivers similar outcomes with likely lower tuition as a public institution. If your child can access York Tech or another technical college in the state system, that's probably the smarter financial move. Fortis makes sense primarily for students who need the flexibility of a private institution's scheduling or who face barriers to enrolling at public colleges.