Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Northwestern College

Northwestern College's dental support program charges more than typical for this field, but the outcomes suggest that premium might be justified. At $12,667, debt runs about 20% higher than both state and national medians—yet graduates earn $29,589 their first year, placing them in the 82nd percentile nationally and well above Illinois' median of $28,181. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 means graduates owe less than half their annual salary, which is manageable territory for a certificate program.

The 60th percentile ranking within Illinois tells you something important: this program performs solidly but not exceptionally compared to other in-state options. Lewis and Clark Community College nearly doubles Northwestern's earnings outcomes, though that appears to be an outlier. More telling is that Northwestern beats the Illinois median while serving a predominantly low-income student body (75% receive Pell grants), suggesting effective training that translates to real job placement.

For a certificate program that gets students working in under two years, these numbers work. Your child would graduate with modest debt—roughly equivalent to financing a used car—and enter a field with immediate earning potential. The premium price over competitors buys above-average outcomes in a healthcare support field with steady demand. Just ensure your student can complete quickly, since the value proposition depends on keeping total borrowing close to this median figure.