Dental Assisting at Portland Community College

At $36,211/yr, Dental Assisting graduates from Portland Community College land near the $36,429 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 91.1x 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 18% gap from the optimistic case.

At #111 of 513 nationally, this is a top-5% Dental Assisting program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $36,211 to $44,630 over five years — a 23% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

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.