by our College Data Analytics Team
[Dental Assisting/Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/dental-support-services/dental-assisting-assistant/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 87 schools to find the best return on investment for dental assisting/assistant students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the dental assisting/assistant degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in dental assisting/assistant, no school beat Cerritos College this year. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $34,175. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in dental assisting/assistant will find it at Oxnard College, which ranked #2. Oxnard College is a large public school located in the city of Oxnard. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,393 ten years after entry.
A rank of #3 makes Fresno City College one of the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,234 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $37,470. Set against $7,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Diego Mesa College earned it the #4 place for dental assisting/assistant. San Diego Mesa College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $6,999. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $29,852. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in dental assisting/assistant will find it at College Of San Mateo, which ranked #5. Set in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $11,428. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $12,831. Median earnings reach $54,172 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasadena City College came in at #6 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $38,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Moreno Valley College earned the #7 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Located in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Students borrow a median of $12,643 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Moreno Valley College earn a median of $45,515 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,643 median debt.
Santa Rosa Junior College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,318 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sacramento City College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $13,180. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $46,522. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Reedley College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Located in the town of Reedley, Reedley College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $6,500. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $30,520. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
Cypress College placed #11 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,150 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,379. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,533.
Diablo Valley College earned the #12 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,312 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,320. Students borrow a median of $9,205 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $27,813. That is a strong return on a $9,205 median debt.
Allan Hancock College earned the #13 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, compared with $9,892 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $42,786 ten years out.
Palomar College came in at #14 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,354, while out-of-state students pay about $10,650. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,300 ten years after entry.
Foothill College earned the #15 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,565, while out-of-state students pay about $12,590. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $17,285. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $81,255. Set against $17,285 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Orange Coast College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,392, while out-of-state students pay about $11,640. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $46,306. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Redwoods ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. College Of The Redwoods is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Eureka. Students from in state pay about $1,196 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,852 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $20,000. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of College Of The Redwoods earn a median of $98,703 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Los Angeles College placed #18 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the suburb of Culver City, West Los Angeles College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,238, with out-of-state students paying around $10,572. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from West Los Angeles College generally make around $65,978.
Chaffey College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,184 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,120. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $6,952 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Chaffey College generally make around $23,532. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
City College Of San Francisco came in at #20 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,696, with out-of-state students paying around $14,656. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $10,332 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $100,031. That is a strong return on a $10,332 median debt.
College Of Alameda earned the #21 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Alameda, College Of Alameda is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,258, while out-of-state students pay about $9,898. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,563.
Lake Tahoe Community College landed the #22 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Lake Tahoe Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of South Lake Tahoe. Students from in state pay about $1,131 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,103. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $36,657.
San Jose City College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose City College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,366, compared with $11,922 for out-of-state students. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from San Jose City College generally make around $23,253.
College Of Marin landed the #24 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Located in the suburb of Kentfield, College Of Marin is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,558, with out-of-state students paying around $9,334. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $22,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from College Of Marin generally make around $98,893. That is a strong return on a $22,125 median debt.
San Joaquin Valley College Fresno landed the #25 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Located in the city of Fresno, San Joaquin Valley College Fresno is a small private for-profit university. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from San Joaquin Valley College Fresno generally make around $27,039. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s dental assisting/assistant value ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 87 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.