Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Phoenix College

Phoenix College's dental support program shows troubling earnings that lag far behind what graduates should expect in Arizona's robust dental market. Starting at just $32,248, graduates earn roughly half the state median of $63,458—placing this program in the bottom 10% statewide. Even nearby community colleges like Mohave and Pima deliver starting earnings double what Phoenix College graduates see.

The low debt of $10,750 prevents this from being a financial disaster, but it doesn't change the fundamental problem: graduates are entering a field where Arizona employers typically pay much more, yet Phoenix College alumni aren't accessing those opportunities. While earnings do climb 32% to $42,633 by year four, that's still $20,000 below what graduates from other Arizona programs earn right out of the gate. Something in the training, clinical partnerships, or job placement isn't translating to market-rate positions.

For parents, this program raises serious questions about why its outcomes diverge so dramatically from other dental support programs in the state. Even accounting for the moderate sample size, the gap is too wide to ignore. If your child is committed to dental assisting or hygiene in Arizona, programs at Pima Community College or Mohave Community College deliver significantly better access to the field's earning potential without requiring substantially more debt.