Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at UEI College-Oceanside

This dental support services program at UEI College-Oceanside delivers concerning results that should give parents pause. With first-year earnings of just $19,904, graduates earn significantly less than both the national median ($25,255) and California median ($24,628) for this field. The program ranks in only the 10th percentile nationally and 25th percentile within California—meaning 90% of similar programs nationwide produce better-earning graduates.

The numbers become particularly stark when compared to top California programs. While UEI graduates earn around $20,000 initially, students at Cabrillo College in the same field earn $74,741—nearly four times more. Even mid-tier options like Cerritos College produce graduates earning $34,175, substantially more than UEI's results. The debt load of $9,500 isn't excessive relative to earnings, creating a manageable debt-to-income ratio of 0.48, but the low absolute earnings remain problematic.

The 32% earnings growth to $26,229 by year four shows some improvement, but graduates still lag behind where most programs start. With 68% of students receiving Pell grants, this serves a financially vulnerable population, making the weak outcomes particularly concerning. Parents should strongly consider the higher-performing California community colleges offering this program, which provide dramatically better earning potential for likely lower costs.