Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Weber State University

The earnings trajectory here tells a troubling story: graduates see their median salary drop from $45,118 to $34,952 within four years—a 22% decline that's particularly unusual in healthcare-adjacent fields. While the debt load of $21,912 seems manageable against first-year earnings, that 0.49 ratio becomes less reassuring when you realize earnings peak immediately after graduation and then fall significantly.

Within Utah, Weber State's program sits at the 40th percentile—solidly below the state median of $48,558 and trailing competitors like Careers Unlimited and Utah Tech by $7,000-8,000 in starting salary. Nationally, the gap is even more stark: Weber State graduates earn just $45,118 compared to the national median of $60,170, placing this program in the bottom 5th percentile. That $15,000 gap represents real money that compounds over a career.

The combination of below-average starting pay and declining earnings suggests graduates may be struggling to advance in their careers or are taking positions that don't fully utilize a bachelor's degree. For a family considering this program, the question becomes whether the credential opens doors that justify both the cost and the apparent career plateau. Other Utah schools are producing better outcomes in this same field, which should prompt serious conversations about what makes this program different—and whether those differences work in students' favor.