Best institutions to study Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
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 a median of $31,425 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), 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 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chabot College Hayward, CA Public · Associate degree | $85,175 | 20 | 47% | — | — |
| 2 | Foothill College Los Altos Hills, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $81,255 | 75 | 56% | — | $17,285 |
| 3 | Shoreline College Shoreline, WA Public · Associate degree | $78,372 | 14 | 29% | — | $27,250 |
| 4 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology Kirkland, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,431 | 37 | 37% | — | $23,750 |
| 5 | Community College of Denver Denver, CO Public · Associate degree | $76,712 | 52 | 20% | — | $29,472 |
| 6 | Pacific University Forest Grove, OR Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,060 | 32 | 67% | $30,571 | $28,375 |
| 7 | University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center Oklahoma City, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,367 | 47 | — | — | $20,990 |
| 8 | College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NV Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,252 | 72 | 19% | — | — |
| 9 | Cabrillo College Aptos, CA Public · Certificate degree | $74,741 | 19 | 38% | — | — |
| 10 | West Coast University - Anaheim - Orange County Anaheim, CA Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,751 | 72 | 60% | $36,879 | $36,134 |
| 11 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,808 | 19 | 63% | — | $25,924 |
| 12 | University of Maryland, Baltimore Baltimore, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,139 | 13 | — | — | $21,500 |
| 13 | University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,260 | 16 | 64% | — | $30,345 |
| 14 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA Public · Associate degree | $70,727 | 43 | 33% | — | $20,894 |
| 15 | Carrington College - Sacramento Sacramento, CA Private for-profit · Associate degree | $70,541 | 204 | 51% | $38,203 | $9,151 |
| 16 | Carrington College - San Jose San Jose, CA Private for-profit · Associate degree | $70,541 | 148 | 60% | $32,608 | $9,151 |
| 17 | Columbia Basin College Pasco, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,534 | 33 | 33% | — | $25,000 |
| 18 | Rose State College Midwest City, OK Public · Associate degree | $70,427 | 23 | 20% | — | $22,500 |
| 19 | NHTI - Concord's Community College Concord, NH Public · Associate degree | $69,546 | 37 | 29% | — | $22,550 |
| 20 | Mount Wachusett Community College Gardner, MA Public · Associate degree | $68,670 | 10 | 24% | — | — |
| 21 | Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $67,984 | 40 | 43% | — | $25,000 |
| 22 | San Joaquin Valley College - Ontario Ontario, CA Private for-profit · Associate degree | $67,916 | 60 | 64% | $26,900 | $20,000 |
| 23 | Southwestern College Chula Vista, CA Public · Associate degree | $67,733 | 29 | 35% | — | $10,500 |
| 24 | Loma Linda University Loma Linda, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,159 | 16 | — | — | $25,000 |
| 25 | Mohave Community College Kingman, AZ Public · Associate degree | $66,796 | 34 | 38% | — | — |
| 26 | Oregon Institute of Technology Klamath Falls, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,691 | 46 | 54% | — | $25,880 |
| 27 | Quinsigamond Community College Worcester, MA Public · Associate degree | $66,252 | 27 | 22% | — | $24,000 |
| 28 | Tarrant County College District Fort Worth, TX Public · Associate degree | $65,537 | 33 | 34% | — | — |
| 29 | Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WI Public · Associate degree | $65,196 | 56 | 25% | — | $25,034 |
| 30 | University of Bridgeport Bridgeport, CT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $65,025 | 68 | 41% | $25,149 | $24,478 |
| 31 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $64,936 | 38 | 85% | — | $23,829 |
| 32 | Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs, IA Public · Associate degree | $64,917 | 16 | 40% | — | $26,481 |
| 33 | Orange County Community College Middletown, NY Public · Associate degree | $64,661 | 15 | 25% | — | — |
| 34 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $64,535 | 24 | — | — | $23,296 |
| 35 | Clark College Vancouver, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $64,500 | 25 | 39% | — | $23,429 |
| 36 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $64,402 | 71 | 54% | — | $26,168 |
| 37 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $64,394 | 27 | 84% | — | $21,000 |
| 38 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $64,082 | 52 | 61% | — | $26,169 |
| 39 | Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL Public · Associate degree | $63,723 | 40 | 41% | — | $5,500 |
| 40 | Tulsa Community College Tulsa, OK Public · Associate degree | $63,224 | 14 | 28% | — | $18,500 |
| 41 | Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $63,145 | 83 | 46% | — | $21,378 |
| 42 | College of Lake County Grayslake, IL Public · Associate degree | $63,080 | 22 | 37% | — | $13,000 |
| 43 | Normandale Community College Bloomington, MN Public · Associate degree | $62,751 | 20 | 27% | — | $31,000 |
| 44 | Hillsborough College Tampa, FL Public · Associate degree | $62,731 | 27 | 34% | — | — |
| 45 | Bergen Community College Paramus, NJ Public · Associate degree | $62,663 | 43 | 21% | — | $22,382 |
| 46 | Yakima Valley College Yakima, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,574 | 12 | 29% | — | — |
| 47 | University of Wyoming Laramie, WY Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,557 | 19 | 59% | — | $16,542 |
| 48 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,496 | 72 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
| 49 | Pima Community College Tucson, AZ Public · Associate degree | $62,481 | 51 | 28% | — | $10,000 |
| 50 | CUNY Hostos Community College Bronx, NY Public · Associate degree | $62,426 | 34 | 16% | — | $14,400 |
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.
Concentrations within Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Dental Assisting/AssistantCIP 51.0601
A program that prepares individuals to provide patient care, take dental radiographs (x-ray photographs), prepare patients and equipment for dental procedures, and discharge office administrative func
- Dental Hygiene/HygienistCIP 51.0602
A program that prepares individuals to clean teeth and apply preventive materials, provide oral health education and treatment counseling to patients, identify oral pathologies and injuries, and manag
- Dental Laboratory Technology/TechnicianCIP 51.0603
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of dentists, to design and construct dental prostheses such as caps, crowns, bridges, dentures, splints, and orthodontic appliances
- Dental Services and Allied Professions, OtherCIP 51.0699
Any instructional program in dental services and allied professions not listed above.
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 of $31,425 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); 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.
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