by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 339 U.S. colleges awarded 8,920 degrees and certificates in Dental Hygiene/Hygienist. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 68% of graduates. College Factual ranks 310 schools in its 2027 Best Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $28,290 one year after completing, rising to $38,528 after four years.
Studying Dental Hygiene/Hygienist explores Dental Hygiene/hygienist. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Clean Teeth And Apply Preventive Materials, Provide Oral Health Education And Treatment Counseling To Patients, Identify Oral Pathologies And Injuries, And Manage Dental Hygiene Practices. Includes Instruction In Dental Anatomy, Microbiology, And Pathology; Dental Hygiene Theory And Techniques; Cleaning Equipment Operation And Maintenance; Dental Materials; Radiology; Patient Education And Counseling; Office Management; Supervised Clinical Training; And Professional Standards.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., dental hygiene/hygienist draws strong interest, with 8,920 degrees awarded annually. 339 colleges award dental hygiene/hygienist degrees, an average of 26 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 95.
By level, the 8,920 awards include 44 certificates, 6,051 associate degrees, 2,471 bachelor’s degrees and 277 master’s degrees.
Women earned 93% of dental hygiene/hygienist degrees and certificates in the latest year (8,327 of 8,920). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (4,813) and Hispanic or Latino (1,903), and international students earned 86.
College Factual ranks 310 schools in its 2027 Best Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools ranking, including 248 for associate degrees, 82 for bachelor’s degrees and 3 for master’s degrees. It also ranks dental hygiene/hygienist schools within 49 states. In all, 339 colleges offer dental hygiene/hygienist programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common dental hygiene/hygienist credential is the associate degree: 6,051 of the 8,920 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to dental hygiene/hygienist call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Medicine and Dentistry, Customer and Personal Service and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Near Vision.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a dental hygiene/hygienist degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 44 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 6,051 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,471 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 277 |
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to dental hygiene/hygienist, at 57.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 57.0% |
| First professional degree | 9.5% |
| Master’s degree | 9.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 6.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 6.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Dental Hygiene/Hygienist, with an average median salary of $74,010; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Pediatric Dental Hygienist, Licensed Dental Hygienist, Oral Hygienist and Dental Hygienist.
The occupation related to dental hygiene/hygienist with the most projected jobs is Dental Hygienists, at 3,299,832.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Hygienists | 3,299,832 | -4.9% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
Dental Hygiene/Hygienist graduates earn a median $28,290 one year after completing their program, $38,528 after four years and $33,997 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $28,290 |
| 4 years | $38,528 |
| 5 years | $33,997 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to dental hygiene/hygienist, with a median salary of $101,356.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Dental Hygienists | $101,356 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Dental Hygiene/Hygienist has 3 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 16,492 degrees a year; the largest are Dental Assisting/Assistant (16,103), Dental Laboratory Technology/Technician (254) and Dental Services and Allied Professions, Other (135). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Dental Assisting/Assistant | 16,103 |
| Dental Laboratory Technology/Technician | 254 |
| Dental Services and Allied Professions, Other | 135 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
