Dental Servicesat Virginia Commonwealth University
Graduates earn $72,808/yr in their first year — about 19.0% above the national Dental Services average. Base-case 10-year earnings $632K; scenarios range from $584K to $633K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University's Dental Services graduates start at $72,808/yr — above the $60,938 national average, though not by a wide margin.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.6x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
Some AI exposure exists in Dental Services's typical career paths, with 24% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $22,341 in median debt clears quickly against $72,808 in annual earnings.
At #15 of 74 nationally, this is a top-5% Dental Services program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $75,427 are relatively flat compared to the $72,808 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.
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 Virginia Commonwealth University'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 Virginia Commonwealth University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Virginia Commonwealth University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Virginia Commonwealth 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 →Frequently asked about Dental Services at Virginia Commonwealth University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Dental Services at Virginia Commonwealth University?
A score of 64/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Dental Services field.
What makes Virginia Commonwealth University's Dental Services program stand out?
Ranked #15 of 74 programs nationally, Virginia Commonwealth University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.