Dental Servicesat University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Graduates earn $58,380/yr in their first year — about 4.0% below the national Dental Services average. Base-case 10-year earnings $586K; scenarios range from $545K to $586K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Graduates earn $58,380/yr, roughly in line with the $60,938 national median for Dental Services. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
With a 21.2x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 7% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Dental Services career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $58,380 far exceeding the $24,125 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
A #38 ranking among 74 Dental Services programs places University of Arkansas-Fort Smith in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Arkansas-Fort Smith's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Dental Services
How University of Arkansas-Fort Smith stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, 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 →Frequently asked about Dental Services at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
What does a 59/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Dental Services at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith?
At 59/100, the score looks reasonable — but Dental Services is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.