2027 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in Florida

[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 32 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for dental assisting/assistant students.
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2027 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in Florida
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dental assisting/assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools
Hillsborough Community College earned the #1 spot for value among dental assisting/assistant schools in Florida. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Students from in state pay about $2,491 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,088. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $16,142. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $62,731. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida State College At Jacksonville earned it the #2 place for dental assisting/assistant. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $19,139. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $59,330. That is a strong return on a $19,139 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes South Florida State College one of the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the suburb of Avon Park, South Florida State College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,165, with out-of-state students paying around $11,859. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $8,204 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $42,415. Set against $8,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Manatee Technical College one of the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the suburb of Bradenton, Manatee Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $9,726. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Manatee Technical College earn a median of $28,447 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,726 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Gulf Coast State College one of the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Panama City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,370, compared with $8,635 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $8,286. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $54,550. That is a strong return on a $8,286 median debt.
Miami Dade College landed the #6 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,838 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $41,314 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Daytona State College earned the #7 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Daytona State College is a large public school located in the city of Daytona Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,106, while out-of-state students pay about $11,994. Students borrow a median of $14,227 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Daytona State College generally make around $47,849. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Florida State College placed #8 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the city of Melbourne, Eastern Florida State College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,791 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,976 for out-of-state students. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $18,123 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Eastern Florida State College generally make around $57,021. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Palm Beach State College placed #9 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Located in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,050, while out-of-state students pay about $10,910. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Palm Beach State College earn a median of $63,723 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tallahassee Community College came in at #10 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Tallahassee Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,026 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,062 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $11,417. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Tallahassee Community College earn a median of $51,709 early in their careers. Set against $11,417 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cape Coral Technical College earned the #11 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Cape Coral, Cape Coral Technical College is a small public institution. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Cape Coral Technical College generally make around $25,282.
Erwin Technical College landed the #12 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Set in the city of Tampa, Erwin Technical College is a small public institution. Students borrow a median of $13,595 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $24,264. That is a strong return on a $13,595 median debt.
Santa Fe College landed the #13 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Santa Fe College is a large public school located in the suburb of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,563, with out-of-state students paying around $9,189. Students borrow a median of $14,875 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $56,722. That is a strong return on a $14,875 median debt.
Charlotte Technical College landed the #14 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Charlotte Technical College is a small public school located in the suburb of Port Charlotte. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,110, while out-of-state students pay about $12,110. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $9,875. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Charlotte Technical College earn a median of $27,852 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Central Florida earned the #15 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Located in the city of Ocala, College Of Central Florida is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,710, with out-of-state students paying around $10,517. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $18,934. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of College Of Central Florida earn a median of $48,055 early in their careers. Set against $18,934 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Broward College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Set in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Broward College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,830, while out-of-state students pay about $8,952. Students borrow a median of $13,110 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Broward College generally make around $51,328. Set against $13,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lorenzo Walker Technical College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Lorenzo Walker Technical College is a small public school located in the suburb of Naples. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Lorenzo Walker Technical College earn a median of $36,815 early in their careers.
Atlantic Technical College placed #18 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the suburb of Coconut Creek, Atlantic Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students borrow a median of $9,222 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $33,146. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Orange Technical College Orlando Campus ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Orange Technical College Orlando Campus is a small public school located in the city of Orlando. Students borrow a median of $8,611 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $28,220. That is a strong return on a $8,611 median debt.
First Coast Technical College earned the #20 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. First Coast Technical College is a small public school located in the suburb of Saint Augustine. Graduates go on to earn a median of $33,784 ten years after entry.
Florida National University Main Campus ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Located in the suburb of Hialeah, Florida National University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,368. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $7,125 in student loans. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Florida National University Main Campus earn a median of $20,203 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ultimate Medical Academy Clearwater placed #22 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Ultimate Medical Academy Clearwater is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Clearwater. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Ultimate Medical Academy Clearwater generally make around $20,029. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pinellas Technical College St Petersburg ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Set in the city of Saint Petersburg, Pinellas Technical College St Petersburg is a mid-sized public institution. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,260 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $32,528. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fortis Institute Port Saint Lucie placed #24 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the city of Port Saint Lucie, Fortis Institute Port Saint Lucie is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $14,839 in tuition and fees. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $12,994 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Fortis Institute Port Saint Lucie generally make around $31,554. That is a strong return on a $12,994 median debt.
Concorde Career Institute Jacksonville came in at #25 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Concorde Career Institute Jacksonville 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 $25,407. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Concorde Career Institute Jacksonville admits about 94% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 32 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in dental assisting/assistant:
More Dental Assisting/Assistant Rankings
View All Dental Assisting/Assistant Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 32 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.