Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Fortis Institute-Scranton

Fortis Institute-Scranton's dental support program produces earnings that fall dramatically short of what students could earn at comparable Pennsylvania schools. At just over $32,000 four years out, graduates earn roughly $10,000 less annually than the state median and $23,000 below the national average—placing this program in the bottom 5% nationally. Meanwhile, the $29,000 debt burden exceeds what students typically borrow for this degree by nearly 50%, creating a nearly 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio that will strain graduates' budgets from day one.

The comparison to other Pennsylvania options is particularly stark. Community colleges like Harrisburg Area and Northampton County deliver earnings above $50,000 with similar or lower debt loads. Even Manor College, which matches the state median, positions graduates to earn $10,000 more annually than Fortis. With 80% of Fortis students receiving Pell grants, these lower-income students are paying premium prices for below-average outcomes in a field where better-paying options are readily available across the state.

For parents whose children are interested in dental support careers, Pennsylvania offers substantially better pathways. This program's combination of high debt and low earnings makes it difficult to justify when nearby community colleges consistently deliver stronger results at lower cost.