Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Waukesha County Technical College

The small sample size here makes it hard to draw firm conclusions, but the earnings trajectory raises red flags. Graduates start strong at $63,360—well above both the national median ($55,016) and Wisconsin's median ($58,211)—but four years later, earnings have dropped to just $50,207. That's a 21% decline, which is unusual for healthcare support roles that typically offer stable, if not growing, compensation. This pattern could reflect part-time work transitions, career changes, or simply the volatility that comes with tracking fewer than 30 graduates.

Looking at Wisconsin programs specifically, Waukesha ranks in the middle of the pack. Milwaukee Area Tech ($65,196) and Madison Area Tech ($59,139) both deliver stronger first-year outcomes without the apparent earnings drop-off. The debt here—$21,000—is reasonable and translates to a manageable 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio based on that strong first year. But if that fourth-year number reflects a real pattern rather than just sample noise, the financial picture becomes considerably less attractive.

For parents weighing this program, the key question is whether those first-year earnings represent a sustainable career path. If your child is committed to dental assisting long-term and plans to work full-time, the low debt makes this defensible. But the earnings decline, combined with stronger alternatives at nearby technical colleges, suggests this warrants a careful conversation about career expectations before committing.