Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Midlands Technical College

Midlands Technical College's dental program produces first-year earnings of $56,771, which puts graduates slightly ahead of both the state and national median for these credentials. That's solid performance in a field where most associate degree holders earn in the $52,000-$57,000 range. The actual earnings figure here is reliable—it's the debt number that's an estimate, derived from similar programs at community colleges nationwide since this school's graduate cohort was too small to report individually.

Based on comparable programs, debt around $17,000 would create a manageable 0.30 ratio—meaning debt equals about 30% of first-year income. For dental support roles like dental hygienists or dental assistants, where earnings tend to be stable and immediate, that's workable. The national median debt for these programs runs slightly higher at $19,309, so even if this estimate is off by a few thousand dollars, the fundamental math still looks reasonable for most graduates.

The practical takeaway: dental support programs deliver quick employment in a healthcare field with consistent demand. If your child can keep actual borrowing close to the estimated $17,000, they're looking at a credential that should pay for itself relatively quickly. Just verify the specific role this program trains for—dental hygienists earn considerably more than dental assistants, and that distinction matters when assessing value.