Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Hillsborough Community College

First-year earnings of $62,731 position this program in the top tier of dental support programs nationally, exceeding both the national median ($55,016) and the state median ($57,278) by meaningful margins. While the debt figure is estimated based on comparable programs in Florida rather than reported outcomes from Hillsborough specifically, the projected $14,875 matches the state median and creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.24—meaning graduates could theoretically pay off loans in under three months of gross earnings.

The earnings performance is particularly impressive given that 42% of students receive Pell grants, suggesting the program delivers strong outcomes for students from lower-income backgrounds. Hillsborough's graduates earn comparably to those from top-performing programs like Palm Beach State and Daytona State, which is noteworthy for an associate's degree that typically requires two years of study. The dental support field—encompassing roles like dental hygienists and assistants—offers relatively quick entry into stable healthcare careers with wages that immediately exceed many bachelor's degree holders.

The main uncertainty here is whether Hillsborough's actual debt burden matches the state estimate. If graduates are borrowing significantly more or less than the $14,875 projection, that could shift the calculation. But based on what similar Florida programs produce, this looks like a strong return on investment: solid healthcare wages achieved quickly, with manageable debt that shouldn't burden graduates for years.