Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Fortis College-Richmond

Fortis College-Richmond's dental assistant program produces earnings that lag behind the typical Virginia graduate by about $1,600 annually, landing in the 40th percentile statewide. That might sound concerning, but the flip side is a notably low debt burden—less than $12,000 compared to the state median of about $10,400—meaning graduates can manage payments on modest incomes without serious strain.

The 14% earnings bump from year one to year four suggests some room for growth through experience, though at $26,013 four years out, graduates still trail both state and national benchmarks. For context, dental assistants at Danville Community College earn about $2,400 more annually right out of the gate. The program serves primarily Pell Grant recipients (71%), and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.5 is manageable, but families should recognize this translates to relatively low absolute earnings—less than $23,000 in that critical first year.

For students certain about dental assisting and needing quick workforce entry, this certificate keeps debt reasonable while opening doors to the field. But if maximizing earning potential matters, exploring programs at Danville or even other Fortis locations might yield better returns for similar or lower debt loads.