Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Lorain County Community College
OH · Associate's Degree · CIP 51.06
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Dental Support Services and Allied Professions degree from Lorain County Community College earn a median salary of $55,287 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in OH, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $61,362. The degree typically pays for itself in 9.2 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$45,638
Typical Career
$55,287
Top Performers
$62,949
Estimated break-even: 9.2 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$369
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,607. Most students can comfortably afford about a $369 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.4x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Ohio buys what costs $0.90 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing, Educational Services.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$61,362
Nominal: $55,287 in Ohio (COL 90.1% of national avg) · 11% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $39,342 | $51,223 | $62,393 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $45,638 | $55,287 | $62,949 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $50,311 | $61,446 | $73,958 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $55,287 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in OH, which has a cost-of-living index of 90.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $55,287 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9010)
= $61,362 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The majority of graduates enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sectors, with 66.1% of alumni finding employment in this field. This concentration suggests a strong demand for professionals in dental support services, enhancing job security and career growth potential. With an estimated break-even point of approximately 9.2 years compared to a high school-only path, pursuing this program offers a favorable return on investment for students, particularly in a growing industry.
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See how the Dental Support Services and Allied Professions degree at Lorain County Community College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
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Other Degrees at Lorain County Community College
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.