Home Schools University of Detroit Mercy Dental Services
Health Professions · Dental Services Rank #74 of 74

Dental Servicesat University of Detroit Mercy

Graduates earn $50,234/yr in their first year — about 18.0% below the national Dental Services average. Base-case 10-year earnings $536K; scenarios range from $504K to $537K depending on AI disruption.

Detroit, MI Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
41 AVERAGE
40
Optimistic
40
Pessimistic
Earnings
$50,234
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.6x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$536K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
31% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Detroit Mercy

This program trains you for vital support roles, from assisting dentists directly to crafting prosthetics. However, the outcomes suggest you'll face a challenging regional labor market. Detroit's economic landscape, while improving, may have an oversupply of graduates for these positions or lower prevailing wages compared to national averages, especially for entry-level roles like dental assisting or lab technicians. As a private institution, you'll also need to carefully weigh the program's cost against the local earning potential. Your career will likely involve direct patient interaction or precise technical work behind the scenes, supporting dental health. Your key actionable step is to thoroughly investigate the current demand and salary expectations for *each specific career path* offered by this program within the local Detroit-area job market before committing.

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
$504K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score40/100
Earnings Multiple3.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$536K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score41/100
Earnings Multiple4.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$537K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score40/100
Earnings Multiple4.2x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Detroit Mercy'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 University of Detroit Mercy 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 University of Detroit Mercy

Other top programs at University of Detroit Mercy

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Detroit Mercy, 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 University of Detroit Mercy

How does University of Detroit Mercy's Dental Services program score?

This program scores 41/100 — on the lower end for Dental Services. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

Why are Dental Services earnings lower at University of Detroit Mercy?

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