Best colleges for Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Dental Support Services and Allied Professions by graduate earnings are Foothill College ($81,255), Lake Washington Institute of Technology ($77,431) and Pacific University ($76,060), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Foothill College (Los Altos Hills, CA): $81,255, 75 graduates a year
- Lake Washington Institute of Technology (Kirkland, WA): $77,431, 37 graduates a year
- Pacific University (Forest Grove, OR): $76,060, 32 graduates a year
- University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center (Oklahoma City, OK): $75,367, 47 graduates a year
- West Coast University - Anaheim-Orange County (Anaheim, CA): $73,751, 72 graduates a year
Compare 753 U.S. colleges offering Dental Support Services and Allied Professions by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 51 states.
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $31,425 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 51.06 and the Dental Assistants occupation (BLS SOC).
About Dental Support Services and Allied Professions programs
The Dental Support Services and Allied Professions program prepares students for various roles in the healthcare sector, focusing on dental support. This program is ideal for individuals interested in pursuing a career in allied health professions, which encompass a range of services distinct from medicine, nursing, and dentistry. Students will gain essential skills to assist dental professionals and enhance patient care.
Learn more about Dental Support Services and Allied Professions →
In this program, students will develop core skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework covers essential knowledge in customer service, medicine, and dental procedures, preparing graduates to perform tasks such as assisting in dental treatments and managing patient records.
Top 24 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foothill College Los Altos Hills, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $81,255 | 75 | 56% | — | $17,285 |
| 2 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology Kirkland, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,431 | 37 | 37% | — | $23,750 |
| 3 | Pacific University Forest Grove, OR Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,060 | 32 | 67% | $30,571 | $28,375 |
| 4 | University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center Oklahoma City, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,367 | 47 | — | — | $20,990 |
| 5 | West Coast University - Anaheim-Orange County Anaheim, CA Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,751 | 72 | 60% | $36,879 | $36,134 |
| 6 | Columbia Basin College Pasco, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,534 | 33 | 33% | — | $25,000 |
| 7 | Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $67,984 | 40 | 43% | — | $25,000 |
| 8 | Oregon Institute of Technology Klamath Falls, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,691 | 46 | 54% | — | $25,880 |
| 9 | University of Bridgeport Bridgeport, CT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $65,025 | 68 | 41% | $25,149 | $24,478 |
| 10 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $64,936 | 38 | 85% | — | $23,829 |
| 11 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $64,535 | 24 | — | — | $23,296 |
| 12 | Clark College Vancouver, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $64,500 | 25 | 39% | — | $23,429 |
| 13 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $64,402 | 71 | 54% | — | $26,168 |
| 14 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $64,394 | 27 | 84% | — | $21,000 |
| 15 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $64,082 | 52 | 61% | — | $26,169 |
| 16 | Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $63,145 | 83 | 46% | — | $21,378 |
| 17 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,496 | 72 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
| 18 | College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NV Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,252 | 72 | 19% | — | — |
| 19 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $72,808 | 19 | 63% | — | $25,924 |
| 20 | University of Maryland, Baltimore Baltimore, MD Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $72,139 | 13 | — | — | $21,500 |
| 21 | University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $71,260 | 16 | 64% | — | $30,345 |
| 22 | Loma Linda University Loma Linda, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $67,159 | 16 | — | — | $25,000 |
| 23 | Yakima Valley College Yakima, WA Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $62,574 | 12 | 29% | — | — |
| 24 | University of Wyoming Laramie, WY Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $62,557 | 19 | 59% | — | $16,542 |
Top 25 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chabot College Hayward, CA Public · Associate degree | $85,175 | 20 | 47% | — | — |
| 2 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA Public · Associate degree | $70,727 | 43 | 33% | — | $20,894 |
| 3 | Carrington College - Sacramento Sacramento, CA Private for-profit · Associate degree | $70,541 | 204 | 51% | $38,203 | $9,151 |
| 4 | Carrington College - San Jose San Jose, CA Private for-profit · Associate degree | $70,541 | 148 | 60% | $32,608 | $9,151 |
| 5 | San Joaquin Valley College - Ontario Ontario, CA Private for-profit · Associate degree | $67,916 | 60 | 64% | $26,900 | $20,000 |
| 6 | Southwestern College Chula Vista, CA Public · Associate degree | $67,733 | 29 | 35% | — | $10,500 |
| 7 | Mohave Community College Kingman, AZ Public · Associate degree | $66,796 | 34 | 38% | — | — |
| 8 | Tarrant County College District Fort Worth, TX Public · Associate degree | $65,537 | 33 | 34% | — | — |
| 9 | Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL Public · Associate degree | $63,723 | 40 | 41% | — | $5,500 |
| 10 | College of Lake County Grayslake, IL Public · Associate degree | $63,080 | 22 | 37% | — | $13,000 |
| 11 | Hillsborough College Tampa, FL Public · Associate degree | $62,731 | 27 | 34% | — | — |
| 12 | Shoreline College Shoreline, WA Public · Associate degree Small program | $78,372 | 14 | 29% | — | $27,250 |
| 13 | Community College of Denver Denver, CO Public · Associate degree | $76,712 | 52 | 20% | — | $29,472 |
| 14 | Cabrillo College Aptos, CA Public · Certificate Small program | $74,741 | 19 | 38% | — | — |
| 15 | Rose State College Midwest City, OK Public · Associate degree | $70,427 | 23 | 20% | — | $22,500 |
| 16 | NHTI-Concord's Community College Concord, NH Public · Associate degree | $69,546 | 37 | 29% | — | $22,550 |
| 17 | Mount Wachusett Community College Gardner, MA Public · Associate degree Small program | $68,670 | 10 | 24% | — | — |
| 18 | Quinsigamond Community College Worcester, MA Public · Associate degree | $66,252 | 27 | 22% | — | $24,000 |
| 19 | Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WI Public · Associate degree | $65,196 | 56 | 25% | — | $25,034 |
| 20 | Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs, IA Public · Associate degree Small program | $64,917 | 16 | 40% | — | $26,481 |
| 21 | Orange County Community College Middletown, NY Public · Associate degree Small program | $64,661 | 15 | 25% | — | — |
| 22 | Tulsa Community College Tulsa, OK Public · Associate degree Small program | $63,224 | 14 | 28% | — | $18,500 |
| 23 | Normandale Community College Bloomington, MN Public · Associate degree | $62,751 | 20 | 27% | — | $31,000 |
| 24 | Bergen Community College Paramus, NJ Public · Associate degree | $62,663 | 43 | 21% | — | $22,382 |
| 25 | Pima Community College Tucson, AZ Public · Associate degree | $62,481 | 51 | 28% | — | $10,000 |
Specializations within Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
4 of the 4 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 51.06 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Dental Assisting/CIP 51.0601
Assistant 16,103 graduates / yr561 institutions49 states - Dental Hygiene/CIP 51.0602
Hygienist 8,920 graduates / yr339 institutions50 states - Dental Laboratory Technology/CIP 51.0603
Technician 254 graduates / yr21 institutions16 states - Dental Services and Allied ProfessionsCIP 51.0699135 graduates / yr12 institutions9 states
Offered across 51 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 31-9091, Dental Assistants, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Dental Support Services and Allied Professions program can pursue careers in various specializations, including dental assisting, hygiene, and laboratory technology. The job outlook is promising, with a growth rate of 6.4% and approximately 52,900 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is around $47,300, typically requiring a postsecondary nondegree award.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 51.06.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 51.06 (Dental Support Services and Allied Professions) maps to 4 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 25-1071 | Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 29-1292 | Dental Hygienists |
| 31-9091 | Dental Assistantsprimary |
| 51-9081 | Dental Laboratory Technicians |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Dental Support Services and Allied Professions programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures.
- Record treatment information in patient records.
- Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies.
- Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory.
- Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
- Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
Common questions
What careers can I pursue with this program?+
You can pursue careers in dental assisting, dental hygiene, and dental laboratory technology.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is favorable, with a growth rate of 6.4% and about 52,900 annual openings.
What level of education is required?+
Typically, a postsecondary nondegree award is required for entry-level positions.
How much do Dental Support Services and Allied Professions graduates earn?+
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $31,425, College Scorecard (2019); the Dental Assistants occupation pays about $50,200 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Dental Support Services and Allied Professions?+
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions maps to CIP 51.06 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card