Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Montgomery County Community College

Montgomery County Community College's dental support program sits in an interesting spot: it ranks at the 60th percentile among Pennsylvania programs with nearly $50,000 in first-year earnings, well above the state median of $42,819. That's solid, especially considering the modest debt load of $16,707—giving you a comfortable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34. The catch? This program underperforms the national median ($55,016), and graduates in the cohort we have data for see essentially flat earnings between year one and year four, hovering around $49,000.

The small sample size here—fewer than 30 graduates tracked—means these numbers could shift significantly with more data. What we can say is that graduates are earning more than typical Pennsylvania dental support professionals right out of the gate, and they're doing it without taking on crushing debt. The earnings plateau is worth noting, though it may reflect the realities of entry-level dental assisting roles rather than a program-specific limitation.

For families looking at Pennsylvania community colleges, this represents a middle-ground option: better than most in-state alternatives, manageable debt, but not breaking into the top tier occupied by schools like Harcum or Harrisburg Area CC. If your student wants to work in dental support locally and values keeping debt low, this delivers reasonable returns. Just know the salary trajectory appears flat rather than climbing.