Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at University of New Mexico-Main Campus

UNM's dental support bachelor's program starts graduates at $55,000—about $5,000 below the national median for this field. That gap persists four years out, with earnings climbing modestly to $58,469. While this places the program in just the 24th percentile nationally, context matters: as the only dental support bachelor's program in New Mexico, it serves a regional market where cost of living and dental industry wages may differ from coastal hubs. The relatively low debt load of $20,378 (well below the $25,000 national median) partially offsets the earnings disadvantage, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 that's manageable by most standards.

The real concern here is the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates reported data. This means one or two career outcomes could skew the entire picture, making these numbers less reliable than typical program data. The 6% earnings growth from year one to year four is encouraging but modest, suggesting this field doesn't reward experience as dramatically as others.

For New Mexico families considering this program, the calculus depends heavily on alternative options. If your student is committed to dental support work and wants to stay in-state, UNM offers an affordable pathway into the field with debt that won't be crushing. However, the below-average national earnings should prompt serious investigation into specific career trajectories—dental hygienists, practice managers, and dental equipment specialists all fall under this umbrella with wildly different pay scales.