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Dental Support Services at Rochester Community and Technical College

Rochester, MN · Public · Associate Degree · Dental Support Services and Allied Professions

with a smaller student body of 3,122 in Rochester, MN.

Program Analysis

Graduates of Rochester Community and Technical College's Dental Support Services program earn $46,805/yr in their first year — 28% above the $36,429 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

With a 40.7x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 6% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Dental Support Services career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

At $13,000 in median debt against $46,805 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

A #168 ranking among 513 Dental Support Services programs places Rochester Community and Technical College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The limited growth from $46,805 to $51,236 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

For students considering alternatives, 4 registered apprenticeship programs align with Dental Support Services careers — offering paid training instead of tuition costs.

59 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
56
Low End
59
Score
59
High End
Earnings $46,805/yr (28% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (76% shielded)
Job Market Large (99,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$519K
2.3% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
40.8x
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
$12,718
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,000
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,236
9% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Dental Support Services 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 →

About Dental Support Services Careers

Your career will likely begin chairside as a dental assistant. You’ll be the dentist’s right hand, preparing treatment rooms, sterilizing instruments, passing tools during procedures, and operating the suction hose. You'll also be a key patient contact, taking X-rays and making people feel at ease. Many professionals use this experience as a launchpad, returning to school to become a dental hygienist.

Read the full Dental Support Services career guide →

Compare & Explore

Dental Support Services Overview

View all 513 schools offering Dental Support Services →

Dental Support Services at Other Schools

Chabot College ($85,175) Shoreline Community College ($78,372) Community College of Denver ($76,712) Cabrillo College ($74,741) Concorde Career College-San Bernardino ($73,660) Concorde Career College-Garden Grove ($72,160) Pima Medical Institute-Tucson ($71,216) Pima Medical Institute-Seattle ($71,216)

Other Majors at Rochester Community and Technical College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($70,020) Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection ($62,398) Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection ($61,196) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($60,676) Criminal Justice and Corrections ($50,418) Health and Medical Administrative Services ($45,675) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($43,642) Health and Medical Administrative Services ($43,381)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Dental Support Services degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 59/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Dental Support Services at Rochester Community and Technical College?
This program scores 59/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Dental Support Services graduates.
What's the typical debt for Dental Support Services graduates from Rochester Community and Technical College?
Median debt of just $13,000 against $46,805/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Can I learn Dental Support Services through an apprenticeship instead?
Yes — 4 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Dental Support Services career paths, including Dental Assistant (Alternate Title: Dental Specialist). Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
Is there demand for Dental Support Services workers?
The career paths mapped to Dental Support Services have roughly 99,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →