Dental Assisting at Fox Valley Technical College

Appleton, WI · Public · Certificate · Dental Support Services and Allied Professions

with a mid-sized student body of 6,004 in Appleton, WI.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $31,038 track close to the $36,429 national median for Dental Assisting programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 74.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Dental Assisting programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Dental Assisting's career paths, with 24% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 12% gap from the optimistic case.

At $5,229 in median debt against $31,038 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #195 of 513 Dental Assisting programs, Fox Valley Technical College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $36,060 are relatively flat compared to the $31,038 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

There are 4 registered apprenticeship pathways mapped to Dental Assisting, including Dental Assistant (Alternate Title: Dental Specialist) (median $47,300/yr). Apprenticeships offer an alternative route that combines paid work with structured training.

57 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
53
Low End
57
Score
58
High End
Earnings $31,038/yr (-15% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (76% shielded)
Job Market Large (99,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$370K
3.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
75.2x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
4 of 4
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$4,916
Out-of-state: $7,109
Median Debt at Graduation
$5,229
2.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$36,060
16% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Dental Assisting graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620 +17.3% 52%
Dental hygienists $94,260 +7.0% 81%
Dental laboratory technicians $48,310 -4.7% 96%
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
$105,620
+17.3% growth 52% AI-proof
Dental hygienists
$94,260
+7.0% growth 81% AI-proof
Dental laboratory technicians
$48,310
-4.7% growth 96% AI-proof

View all 4 career paths with full salary data →

Dental Assisting Career Guide

What can you do with a Dental Assisting credential from Fox Valley Technical College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Dental Assisting career guide →

Compare & Explore

Dental Assisting Overview

Dental Assisting at Other Schools

Other Majors at Fox Valley Technical College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Fox Valley Technical College's Dental Assisting program score?
This program scores 57/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Dental Assisting graduates.
How affordable is Dental Assisting at Fox Valley Technical College?
Median debt of just $5,229 against $31,038/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Are there apprenticeship options for Dental Assisting?
If Fox Valley Technical College's tuition gives you pause, consider that 4 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Dental Assisting. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
Will Dental Assisting graduates from Fox Valley Technical College find jobs?
The career paths mapped to Dental Assisting have roughly 99,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a large job market. Demand is driven by an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →