Dental Assisting at Carl Sandburg College

Graduates of Carl Sandburg College's Dental Assisting program earn $51,566/yr in their first year — 42% above the $36,429 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 51.5x 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 1% gap from the optimistic case.

At $6,587 in median debt against $51,566 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #107 of 513 nationally, this is a top-5% Dental Assisting program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $54,300 are relatively flat compared to the $51,566 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.