Dental Support Services at Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
64 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
64
Optimistic
64
Base Case
63
Pessimistic
Earnings $72,808/yr (19% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Large (99,500 openings/yr)
ROI 9.6x earnings multiple (4.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #15 of 74 Dental Support Services programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Dental Support Services graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $633K $632K $584K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.6x 9.6x 8.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.1x 4.0x 3.7x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 53% 44%
DegreeOutlook Score 64 64 63

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$65,832
Out-of-state: $156,168 (4.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$77,808
-18% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,341
3.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$75,427
4% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Virginia Commonwealth University's Dental Support Services graduates start at $72,808/yr — above the $60,938 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.6x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Dental Support Services's typical career paths, with 24% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $22,341 in median debt clears quickly against $72,808 in annual earnings.

At #15 of 74 nationally, this is a top-5% Dental Support Services program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $75,427 are relatively flat compared to the $72,808 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Virginia Commonwealth University

A 93% acceptance rate means Virginia Commonwealth University is accessible to most applicants, one of the larger campuses at 20,797 students in Richmond, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Commonwealth University →

Top Career Paths

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr
Dental hygienists $94,260/yr
Dental laboratory technicians $48,310/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Dental Support Services at Other Schools

Other Majors at Virginia Commonwealth University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Dental Support Services at Virginia Commonwealth University?
A score of 64/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Dental Support Services field.
What makes Virginia Commonwealth University's Dental Support Services program stand out?
Ranked #15 of 74 programs nationally, Virginia Commonwealth University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →