Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Lewis and Clark Community College

Lewis and Clark Community College graduates enter the workforce earning slightly above the state median, but that initial advantage doesn't hold. While first-year earnings of $54,276 beat the national average and keep debt manageable at $13,417, graduates see their income drop to $50,200 by year four—unusual in a healthcare field where earnings typically climb. Among Illinois programs, this ranks in the 40th percentile, trailing schools like College of Lake County and Rock Valley College by $9,000-$13,000 annually.

The debt picture is actually a strength here. At roughly a quarter of first-year earnings, this is one of the lower debt loads you'll find in dental support programs statewide. That low financial risk matters when weighing the earnings trajectory. The question is whether settling into the low-$50,000s long-term meets your family's expectations, especially when stronger Illinois programs produce graduates earning $8,000-$10,000 more annually for similar debt levels.

If your child is already near Godfrey and needs to stay local, the low debt makes this workable despite the below-average state outcomes. But if you have flexibility on location, other Illinois community colleges are delivering notably better returns for their dental support graduates, with that earnings gap compounding to over $30,000 in additional lifetime income within just the first few years of work.