Est. Earnings (1yr)
$70,541
Est. from CA median (9 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$17,080
Est. from national median (104 programs)

Analysis

California's dental support programs cluster at the higher end of national outcomes, and Pasadena City College's estimated figures suggest students here enter a robust market. While we can't see actual graduate data for this specific program, similar dental support associate programs across California typically produce first-year earnings around $70,541—substantially above the $55,016 national median. This puts California's dental support graduates ahead of peers in most other states from day one.

The estimated $17,080 in debt is notably lower than both the California median ($26,125) and national median ($19,309) for these programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.24. That means students would likely spend about three months of their first year's salary paying off what they borrowed—a manageable burden for entering a field with steady demand. Even if actual figures for Pasadena graduates vary from these state estimates, the overall California market for dental assistants and hygienists remains strong enough to support reasonable debt loads.

The challenge is that without school-specific data, you can't know whether Pasadena's program connects students to the highest-paying employers or leaves them at the lower end of the state range. Top California programs like Chabot College place graduates earning $85,000+, while others cluster closer to the median. For families prioritizing lower debt with likely access to California's strong dental job market, the estimated picture looks solid—just recognize you're betting on statewide trends rather than verified outcomes.

Where Pasadena City College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all dental support services and allied professions associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Dental Support Services and Allied Professions associates's programs at peer institutions in California (45 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Pasadena City CollegePasadena$1,180$70,541*—$17,080*—
Chabot CollegeHayward$1,150$85,175*$87,048—*—
Concorde Career College-San BernardinoSan Bernardino—$73,660*$58,500$26,125*0.35
Concorde Career College-Garden GroveGarden Grove—$72,160*$58,230$29,176*0.40
Concorde Career College-San DiegoSan Diego—$70,807*$56,906$26,125*0.37
Carrington College-SacramentoSacramento—$70,541*$63,413$32,350*0.46
National Median—$55,016*—$19,309*0.35
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with dental support services and allied professions graduates

Dental Hygienists

Administer oral hygiene care to patients. Assess patient oral hygiene problems or needs and maintain health records. Advise patients on oral health maintenance and disease prevention. May provide advanced care such as providing fluoride treatment or administering topical anesthesia.

$94,260/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Dental Assistants

Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.

$47,300/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Dental Laboratory Technicians

Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances.

$45,820/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Pasadena City College, approximately 30% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 9 similar programs in CA. Actual outcomes may vary.