Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Miami Dade College

Miami Dade College's dental support program graduates earn $41,314 one year out—substantially below what you'd expect in Florida's dental assistant market. The state median sits at $57,278, and the top five programs in Florida all place graduates above $59,000. That $16,000 earnings gap translates to real money when you're starting your career, particularly in Miami's expensive housing market.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $18,000, it's reasonable and actually below Florida's median for this program. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44 means graduates should be able to manage payments without financial distress. However, that manageable debt doesn't change the fundamental issue—dental support graduates from this program are earning less than three-quarters of their peers in Florida's other dental programs. Even nationally, where earnings averages are lower than Florida's, this program ranks in just the 18th percentile.

For a student committed to staying in South Florida, this might still work given Miami Dade's affordability and accessibility, especially for the 45% of students receiving Pell grants who need a local option. But if your child has the grades and mobility to consider programs like Palm Beach State or Hillsborough Community College, those schools are placing graduates into significantly higher-earning positions—potentially $20,000+ more annually—for similar or even lower debt loads.