2026 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in Texas
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 35 schools to find the best return on investment for dental assisting/assistant students.
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2026 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in Texas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dental assisting/assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools
Leading the list is El Paso Community College, our #1 best value for dental assisting/assistant in Texas. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $8,542 in student loans. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. 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 Lamar State College Orange, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Orange, Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,832, compared with $13,824 for out-of-state students. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $18,506 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $22,866. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Del Mar College earned it the #3 place for dental assisting/assistant. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,500, with out-of-state students paying around $6,050. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $7,476. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $40,661. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tarrant County College District came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,863, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Students borrow a median of $15,148 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $65,537 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,148 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Houston Community College earned it the #5 place for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Students borrow a median of $19,223 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $56,005 early in their careers. Set against $19,223 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grayson College earned the #6 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,000 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,300 for out-of-state students. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,627 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Grayson College generally make around $30,560. Set against $11,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Antonio College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Set in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $11,839. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $37,855. That is a strong return on a $11,839 median debt.
Tyler Junior College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Located in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,424, while out-of-state students pay about $4,536. Students borrow a median of $16,241 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Tyler Junior College generally make around $53,557. Set against $16,241 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pci Health Training Center ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Pci Health Training Center is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Dallas. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $8,095 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $24,130. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fortis Institute Houston ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Fortis Institute Houston is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $13,140. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $19,835. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pima Medical Institute Houston placed #11 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the city of Houston, Pima Medical Institute Houston is a small private for-profit institution. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $20,505 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Pima Medical Institute Houston generally make around $49,259. That is a strong return on a $20,505 median debt.
Pima Medical Institution San Antonio placed #12 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the city of San Antonio, Pima Medical Institution San Antonio is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $8,509. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Pima Medical Institution San Antonio earn a median of $27,301 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Concorde Career College Dallas placed #13 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Located in the city of Dallas, Concorde Career College Dallas is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $17,375. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Concorde Career College Dallas generally make around $45,876. Set against $17,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Remington College Houston Southeast Campus landed the #14 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Set in the suburb of League City, Remington College Houston Southeast Campus is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,926. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Remington College Houston Southeast Campus earn a median of $21,721 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pima Medical Institute El Paso earned the #15 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Located in the city of El Paso, Pima Medical Institute El Paso 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 El Paso earn a median of $27,301 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Concorde Career College Grand Prairie placed #16 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Located in the suburb of Grand Prairie, Concorde Career College Grand Prairie is a small private for-profit university. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $21,086. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Brownsville earned the #17 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Brownsville is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Brownsville. Students borrow a median of $11,825 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $31,102. That is a strong return on a $11,825 median debt.
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Weslaco earned the #18 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Weslaco is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Weslaco. Students borrow a median of $11,825 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Median earnings reach $31,102 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $11,825 median debt.
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Corpus Christi placed #19 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Corpus Christi is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Corpus Christi. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,825 in student loans. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Corpus Christi earn a median of $19,134 early in their careers. Set against $11,825 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The College Of Health Care Professions Mcallen Campus landed the #20 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Set in the city of McAllen, The College Of Health Care Professions Mcallen Campus is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $9,248 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of The College Of Health Care Professions Mcallen Campus earn a median of $21,569 early in their careers. Set against $9,248 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Mcallen placed #21 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Mcallen is a small private for-profit school located in the city of McAllen. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,825 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $19,134. Set against $11,825 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The College Of Health Care Professions Austin earned the #22 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. The College Of Health Care Professions Austin is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Austin. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,085 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $29,060. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Remington College Fort Worth Campus placed #23 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the suburb of North Richland Hills, Remington College Fort Worth Campus is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,071. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $21,721. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Health Care Professions Northwest ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Located in the city of Houston, College Of Health Care Professions Northwest is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,248 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $21,569. That is a strong return on a $9,248 median debt.
Remington College North Houston Campus placed #25 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Located in the city of Houston, Remington College North Houston Campus is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,373. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Remington College North Houston Campus generally make around $21,721. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
