2027 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Dental Assisting/Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/dental-support-services/dental-assisting-assistant/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong dental assisting/assistant education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 74 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for dental assisting/assistant students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the dental assisting/assistant degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools
Washtenaw Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,736 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $37,428. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Elgin Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,252, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $7,727. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $43,975. 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 Macomb Community College, which ranked #3. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. Students from in state pay about $3,660 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $9,862. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $38,758. Set against $9,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lewis And Clark Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Located in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,340, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $12,709. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Lewis And Clark Community College earn a median of $54,031 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sinclair Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental assisting/assistant, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $19,346. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $53,091 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Illinois Valley Community College came in at #6 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Located in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,200 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,385. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $8,099. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Illinois Valley Community College earn a median of $33,224 early in their careers. Set against $8,099 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Prairie State College earned the #7 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Located in the suburb of Chicago Heights, Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,176, while out-of-state students pay about $11,064. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $15,663 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Prairie State College generally make around $37,500. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stark State College placed #8 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Stark State College is a large public school located in the suburb of North Canton. In-state tuition and fees average $4,790, with out-of-state students paying around $7,886. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,157 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $31,348. That is a strong return on a $14,157 median debt.
Delta College came in at #9 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Located in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, while out-of-state students pay about $7,880. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $17,800 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $36,828. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
John A Logan College came in at #10 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the town of Carterville, John A Logan College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,630, compared with $7,540 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $10,479. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of John A Logan College earn a median of $40,806 early in their careers. Set against $10,479 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ivy Tech Community College earned the #11 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $12,611 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $36,371. Set against $12,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kaskaskia College placed #12 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Located in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800, with out-of-state students paying around $12,570. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $7,875 in student loans. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Kaskaskia College earn a median of $45,658 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Blackhawk Technical College came in at #13 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Blackhawk Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Janesville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,747, while out-of-state students pay about $6,803. Students borrow a median of $13,715 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Blackhawk Technical College generally make around $27,831. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mott Community College placed #14 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Located in the city of Flint, Mott Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,845, while out-of-state students pay about $11,460. Students borrow a median of $25,926 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Mott Community College generally make around $40,544. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lakeshore Technical College landed the #15 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Cleveland. In-state tuition and fees average $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $11,582. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Lakeshore Technical College earn a median of $28,022 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,582 median debt.
Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #16 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,427. Students borrow a median of $25,034 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $43,973. That is a strong return on a $25,034 median debt.
Grand Rapids Community College landed the #17 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,179 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,219. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Grand Rapids Community College earn a median of $45,543 early in their careers. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana University Northwest ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Gary. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $57,654. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Lakeland Community College came in at #19 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirtland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,872, while out-of-state students pay about $9,235. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,200 in student loans. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Lakeland Community College earn a median of $51,941 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,200 median debt.
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #20 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,283. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $44,625. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College landed the #21 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. Students from in state pay about $4,960 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,203 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $14,997. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $52,744. Set against $14,997 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northcentral Technical College came in at #22 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,889, with out-of-state students paying around $7,132. Students borrow a median of $17,462 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Northcentral Technical College earn a median of $48,083 early in their careers. Set against $17,462 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Technical College La Cross earned the #23 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Western Technical College La Cross is a large public school located in the city of La Crosse. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,820, with out-of-state students paying around $7,078. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $13,669. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $33,322. Set against $13,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wayne County Community College District came in at #24 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne County Community College District is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,112, while out-of-state students pay about $4,067. Students borrow a median of $20,820 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $48,892. Set against $20,820 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Waukesha County Technical College came in at #25 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,803 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,046. Students borrow a median of $16,200 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Waukesha County Technical College generally make around $47,043. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in dental assisting/assistant:
Narrow Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools by State
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 74 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 74 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
