Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at UEI College-Mesa

This UEI College-Mesa dental support program presents concerning earnings performance that should give parents pause. At $19,904 in first-year earnings, graduates earn significantly less than both the national average ($25,255) and Arizona's median ($26,485) for this field—ranking in just the 10th percentile nationally and 25th percentile statewide. More troubling, competing programs in Arizona consistently produce graduates earning $27,000-$30,000, suggesting this program underperforms even within its local market.

The debt picture offers some relief, with $9,500 being reasonable and creating a manageable 0.48 debt-to-earnings ratio. The 32% earnings growth to $26,229 by year four shows graduates do catch up somewhat, reaching closer to state and national norms. However, those first few years of significantly lower earnings represent real financial hardship that families should factor into their calculations.

Bottom line: While this program eventually gets graduates to market-rate earnings, the weak initial performance compared to other Arizona options makes it hard to recommend. Given that Pima Medical Institute and Brookline College programs in the Phoenix area consistently produce 40-50% higher starting salaries with similar debt loads, parents should strongly consider those alternatives unless location or other factors make UEI the only viable option.