Home Schools East Tennessee State University Dental Services
Health Professions · Dental Services Rank #34 of 74

Dental Servicesat East Tennessee State University

Graduates earn $51,316/yr in their first year — about 16.0% below the national Dental Services average. Base-case 10-year earnings $562K; scenarios range from $526K to $563K depending on AI disruption.

Johnson City, TN Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
60 SOLID
60
Optimistic
59
Pessimistic
Earnings
$51,316
1-year post-graduation
ROI
14.3x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$562K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
31% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at East Tennessee State University

First-year earnings of $51,316 place East Tennessee State University below the $60,938 national median for Dental Services — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 14.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 24% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $51,316 far exceeding the $14,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #34 out of 74 programs, East Tennessee State University's Dental Services offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $51,316 to $60,729 over five years (18% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$526K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score59/100
Earnings Multiple13.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$562K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score60/100
Earnings Multiple14.1x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$563K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score60/100
Earnings Multiple14.1x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to East Tennessee State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Dental Services graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
+17.3% 10-yr growth · 27,400 openings/yr
$105,620/yr
Moderate
2
Dental hygienists
+7.0% 10-yr growth · 15,300 openings/yr
$94,260/yr
Low
3
Dental laboratory technicians
-4.7% 10-yr growth · 3,900 openings/yr
$48,310/yr
Low
4
Dental assistants
+6.4% 10-yr growth · 52,900 openings/yr
$47,300/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Dental Services

How East Tennessee State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Foothill College
CA · Public
64
DW Score
$81K
1-yr earn
128.8x
ROI
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
OK · Public
69
DW Score
$75K
1-yr earn
17.4x
ROI
University of Hawaii at Manoa
HI · Public
66
DW Score
$71K
1-yr earn
13.7x
ROI
University of Southern California
CA · Private nonprofit
51
DW Score
$69K
1-yr earn
2.0x
ROI
Eastern Washington University
WA · Public
69
DW Score
$68K
1-yr earn
20.0x
ROI
Also at East Tennessee State University

Other top programs at East Tennessee State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at East Tennessee State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Dental Services offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Dental Services trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Dental Services at East Tennessee State University

How does East Tennessee State University's Dental Services program score?

This program scores 60/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Dental Services graduates.

Why are Dental Services earnings lower at East Tennessee State University?

Lower starting pay at East Tennessee State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.