Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Idaho State University

Idaho State University's dental support program sits in an unusual position: it ranks in just the 20th percentile nationally for earnings, yet hits the 60th percentile among Idaho programs. This tells you more about Idaho's dental market than the program itself—earning $53,877 puts you nearly $6,300 below the national median for this degree. With only two schools offering this program in Idaho, the state comparison isn't particularly meaningful for assessing value.

The bigger concern is the complete earnings stagnation. Graduates earn essentially identical salaries in year one and year four, which is rare for a healthcare-adjacent field. Meanwhile, the national picture shows most dental support professionals earning substantially more, suggesting either that this program isn't preparing students for higher-paying roles or that Idaho's dental market simply caps out quickly. The debt load of $23,675 is manageable—you're looking at a 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio—but you're paying to access a career track with limited upside.

For Idaho families who want their child to stay in-state, this program offers stable employment right out of school. But families open to out-of-state options should look hard at programs in states with stronger dental markets. The gap between this program's outcomes and the national median ($6,300) is significant enough that relocating after graduation might be necessary to reach typical earnings for this credential.