Dental Assisting at Albany Technical College

Albany, GA · Public · Certificate · Dental Support Services and Allied Professions

a compact campus enrolling 2,214 students in Albany, GA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $28,683 place Albany Technical College below the $36,429 national median for Dental Assisting — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

With a 93.9x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 0% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Dental Assisting career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

With first-year pay of $28,683 far exceeding the $5,123 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #177 ranking among 513 Dental Assisting programs places Albany Technical College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

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

58 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
55
Low End
58
Score
58
High End
Earnings $28,683/yr (-21% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (76% shielded)
Job Market Large (99,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$300K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
93.9x
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)
$3,196
Out-of-state: $5,596
Median Debt at Graduation
$5,123
2.1 months of Year 1 earnings

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

See the full career breakdown for Dental Assisting — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Albany Technical College and 512 other schools.

Read the full Dental Assisting career guide →

Compare & Explore

Dental Assisting Overview

Dental Assisting at Other Schools

Other Majors at Albany Technical College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Albany Technical College's Dental Assisting program score?
A score of 58/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Dental Assisting field.
How affordable is Dental Assisting at Albany Technical College?
Median debt of just $5,123 against $28,683/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.
Can you still earn well with Dental Assisting from Albany Technical College?
Starting salary is one data point. If Albany Technical College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Are there apprenticeship options for Dental Assisting?
Yes — 4 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Dental Assisting career paths, including Dental Assistant (Alternate Title: Dental Specialist). Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at Albany Technical College.
Is there demand for Dental Assisting workers?
With approximately 99,500 annual openings across mapped careers, Dental Assisting offers a large employment pool. Albany Technical College graduates enter a market shaped by an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →