Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Shawnee State University

Starting at just over $38,000, Shawnee State's dental support program lands significantly below both the Ohio median ($48,870) and the national average ($55,016) for first-year earnings—ranking in the bottom quarter among Ohio schools. For comparison, dental hygiene graduates at Fortis College-Centerville start at $63,653, while several Cincinnati-area programs place their graduates around $57,000. That $10,000 gap from the state median translates to real money when you're trying to pay down student loans.

The numbers do improve—earnings grow 22% to reach $47,195 by year four—but that still leaves graduates trailing the field. The relatively modest debt load of $18,000 keeps this from being a financial disaster, with initial debt representing less than half of first-year earnings. However, the small sample size here matters: with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, a few individual outcomes can swing these averages considerably.

For families considering this program, the question becomes whether Portsmouth's location and Shawnee State's lower cost structure justify accepting below-average earning potential. If your student can access one of the stronger Ohio programs—particularly in Cincinnati or Dayton—the higher starting salaries would likely offset any additional costs within the first few years of work.