2027 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in Indiana

[Dental Assisting/Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/dental-support-services/dental-assisting-assistant/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for dental assisting/assistant students.
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2027 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in Indiana
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dental assisting/assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools
Ivy Tech Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools in Indiana. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,611 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $36,371. That is a strong return on a $12,611 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis one of the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $26,168. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $64,402. Set against $26,168 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Northwest earned it the #3 place for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the suburb of Gary, Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $57,654. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern Indiana came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Located in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,066, compared with $22,907 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from University Of Southern Indiana generally make around $61,972. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Caris College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Caris College is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Jeffersonville.
Ross Medical Education Center Muncie came in at #6 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Muncie, Ross Medical Education Center Muncie is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Ross Medical Education Center Muncie earn a median of $23,957 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Ross Medical Education Center Fort Wayne came in at #7 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Ross Medical Education Center Fort Wayne is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Fort Wayne. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Ross Medical Education Center Fort Wayne earn a median of $25,352 early in their careers. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ross Medical Education Center Evansville earned the #8 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Evansville, Ross Medical Education Center Evansville is a small private for-profit institution. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $24,411. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Ross Medical Education Center Granger landed the #9 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Located in the city of Mishawaka, Ross Medical Education Center Granger is a small private for-profit university. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Ross Medical Education Center Granger earn a median of $23,402 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ross Medical Education Center Lafayette landed the #10 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Set in the city of Lafayette, Ross Medical Education Center Lafayette is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Ross Medical Education Center Lafayette generally make around $24,411. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fortis College Indianapolis placed #11 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Fortis College Indianapolis is a small private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,072. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,167 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $26,550. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.