Dental Assisting at Farmingdale State College

Farmingdale, NY · Public · Associate Degree · Dental Support Services and Allied Professions

Farmingdale State College accepts 69% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, enrolling 9,117 students in Farmingdale, NY.

Program Analysis

Graduates of Farmingdale State College's Dental Assisting program earn $57,077/yr in their first year — 57% above the $36,429 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 36.9x 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 6% gap from the optimistic case.

At $13,564 in median debt against $57,077 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #156 of 513 Dental Assisting programs, Farmingdale State College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $62,672 are relatively flat compared to the $57,077 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.

60 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
58
Low End
60
Score
60
High End
Earnings $57,077/yr (57% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (76% shielded)
Job Market Large (99,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$636K
2.4% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
37.1x
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)
$17,152
Out-of-state: $36,972
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,564
2.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,672
10% growth from Year 1

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

Dental Assisting opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Dental Assisting career guide →

Compare & Explore

Dental Assisting Overview

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Farmingdale State College's Dental Assisting program score?
At 60/100, Farmingdale State College's Dental Assisting program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
How affordable is Dental Assisting at Farmingdale State College?
Median debt of just $13,564 against $57,077/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.
Are there apprenticeship options for Dental Assisting?
The DOL recognizes 4 apprenticeship pathways related to Dental Assisting. For students weighing Farmingdale State College's program cost against alternatives, apprenticeships offer zero-tuition entry with paid employment from day one.
How many job openings are there for Dental Assisting graduates?
Job availability for Dental Assisting is strong — 99,500 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Farmingdale State College graduates specifically, local market conditions in NY may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →