Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Old Dominion University

Old Dominion's dental support graduates start strong at $63,145, but here's what complicates the picture: earnings actually slip to $60,633 by year four. That puts ODU grads nearly $7,000 behind the state median, despite Virginia having only two programs in this field. Virginia Commonwealth graduates earn $72,808—about $12,000 more annually—which compounds significantly over a career. The relatively light debt load of $21,378 helps, but when earnings are trending downward rather than up, that advantage matters less than it might seem.

The 66th percentile national ranking looks respectable until you realize it translates to just slightly above the $60,170 national median—and well below what Virginia's job market apparently supports for this profession. The declining earnings pattern suggests either limited advancement opportunities or graduates moving into lower-paying roles over time. For a bachelor's degree requiring four years of investment, you'd expect career trajectories to move upward, not backward.

If your child is set on dental support services in Virginia, VCU's program appears worth the comparison. The $12,000 annual earnings difference would recover any potential tuition gap relatively quickly. ODU works if cost is the primary concern and your child plans to stay local, but the earnings trajectory here raises questions about long-term career growth in this particular program.