by our College Data Analytics Team
[Dental Assisting/Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/dental-support-services/dental-assisting-assistant/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for dental assisting/assistant students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dental assisting/assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Bates Technical College tops our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools in Washington. Bates Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. In-state tuition and fees average $6,027, while out-of-state students pay about $12,165. Median earnings reach $50,051 ten years out.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Clover Park Technical College earned it the #2 place for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the city of Lakewood, Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,634. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $15,154 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $36,180. 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 Bellingham Technical College, which ranked #3. Bellingham Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Bellingham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,431, compared with $5,809 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,748 ten years after entry.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental assisting/assistant, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,997, while out-of-state students pay about $12,062. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $77,431. Set against $23,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Renton Technical College earned it the #5 place for dental assisting/assistant. Located in the city of Renton, Renton Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,330, compared with $7,768 for out-of-state students. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $18,582 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $80,411. That is a strong return on a $18,582 median debt.
Spokane Community College earned the #6 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Spokane. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,461, with out-of-state students paying around $6,612. Students borrow a median of $8,631 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Spokane Community College earn a median of $34,974 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,631 median debt.
Seattle Community College Central Campus placed #7 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Seattle Community College Central Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Seattle. In-state tuition and fees average $5,238, while out-of-state students pay about $5,796. Students borrow a median of $14,699 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $53,048. That is a strong return on a $14,699 median debt.
South Puget Sound Community College came in at #8 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Olympia, South Puget Sound Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,257 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,818 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $14,245. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of South Puget Sound Community College earn a median of $31,694 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,245 median debt.
Yakima Valley Community College placed #9 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the city of Yakima, Yakima Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,312, with out-of-state students paying around $5,873. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,649 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $62,574. Set against $14,649 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pima Medical Institute Seattle came in at #10 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Pima Medical Institute Seattle is a small private for-profit institution. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $20,505 in student loans. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Pima Medical Institute Seattle earn a median of $49,259 early in their careers. Set against $20,505 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pima Medical Institute Renton landed the #11 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Located in the city of Renton, Pima Medical Institute Renton is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $8,509. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Pima Medical Institute Renton earn a median of $27,301 early in their careers. Set against $8,509 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Uei College Tacoma earned the #12 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Tacoma, Uei College Tacoma is a small private for-profit institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $30,848 ten years after entry.
Carrington College Spokane ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Located in the city of Spokane, Carrington College Spokane is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $9,409. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $30,326. Set against $9,409 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.