2026 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in North Carolina
[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong dental assisting/assistant education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for dental assisting/assistant students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dental assisting/assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools
Central Piedmont Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools in North Carolina. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $43,908 early in their careers. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Central Carolina Community College one of the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,711, compared with $8,855 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,266 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Central Carolina Community College generally make around $44,885. That is a strong return on a $10,266 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wilkes Community College earned it the #3 place for dental assisting/assistant. Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wilkesboro. Students from in state pay about $2,572 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,716. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,125 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $36,341. That is a strong return on a $9,125 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Fayetteville Technical Community College earned it the #4 place for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,628, with out-of-state students paying around $8,772. Students borrow a median of $16,909 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $40,584. Set against $16,909 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Wayne Community College one of the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Goldsboro. In-state tuition and fees average $2,566, while out-of-state students pay about $8,710. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Wayne Community College earn a median of $35,336 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rowan Cabarrus Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Set in the suburb of Salisbury, Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,064, while out-of-state students pay about $6,672. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $10,867 in student loans. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Rowan Cabarrus Community College earn a median of $34,351 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,867 median debt.
Western Piedmont Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Western Piedmont Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Morganton. In-state tuition and fees average $2,650, with out-of-state students paying around $8,794. Students borrow a median of $11,999 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $46,883. Set against $11,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cape Fear Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Located in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,748, compared with $8,892 for out-of-state students. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $12,388 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $42,889. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Forsyth Technical Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,276 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,884. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $16,374 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $56,717. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Isothermal Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Set in the town of Spindale, Isothermal Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,030, with out-of-state students paying around $6,638. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Isothermal Community College generally make around $47,389. Set against $6,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wake Technical Community College earned the #11 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,254 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,862 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,900 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $38,673. Set against $17,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pitt Community College landed the #12 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Pitt Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Winterville. In-state tuition and fees average $3,871, while out-of-state students pay about $13,087. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $19,741 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $43,022. Set against $19,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Coastal Carolina Community College placed #13 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Coastal Carolina Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,512, while out-of-state students pay about $8,656. Students borrow a median of $7,125 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Coastal Carolina Community College earn a median of $50,081 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,125 median debt.
Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College came in at #14 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Asheville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,882, while out-of-state students pay about $9,026. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $18,883. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $36,817. That is a strong return on a $18,883 median debt.
Guilford Technical Community College placed #15 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Guilford Technical Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Jamestown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,320, while out-of-state students pay about $7,696. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $13,231 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Guilford Technical Community College generally make around $45,689. That is a strong return on a $13,231 median debt.
Alamance Community College placed #16 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the suburb of Graham, Alamance Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,592 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,736. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $6,625. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Alamance Community College generally make around $32,421. That is a strong return on a $6,625 median debt.
Miller Motte College Raleigh earned the #17 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, Miller Motte College Raleigh is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $26,779. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Miller Motte College Raleigh earn a median of $26,998 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Miller Motte College Wilmington landed the #18 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Miller Motte College Wilmington is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Wilmington. Students borrow a median of $26,779 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $26,998. That is a strong return on a $26,779 median debt.
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), 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
