[Dental Hygiene/Hygienist](/majors/health-care-professions/dental-support-services/dental-hygiene-hygienist/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 251 schools to find the best return on investment for dental hygiene/hygienist students.
Leading the list is Cerritos College, our #1 best value for dental hygiene/hygienist in the United States. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $34,175. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Middlesex County College one of the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Located in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,764, while out-of-state students pay about $7,356. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $11,250 in student loans. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Middlesex County College earn a median of $59,451 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,250 median debt.
Pasadena City College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in dental hygiene/hygienist will find it at Pima Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,442 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Pima Community College generally make around $62,481. Set against $10,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Centro College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. In-state tuition and fees average $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $14,557. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $41,295. That is a strong return on a $14,557 median debt.
Oxnard College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Oxnard College is a large public school located in the city of Oxnard. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.
Macomb Community College placed #7 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $9,862 in student loans. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $38,758 early in their careers. Set against $9,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Piedmont Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,792, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $56,456. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wayne Community College landed the #9 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist value this year. Located in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,566, with out-of-state students paying around $8,710. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Wayne Community College earn a median of $35,336 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Lake Land College earned the #10 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Set in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,415, compared with $14,301 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $13,625. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $58,853. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Petersburg College came in at #11 for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Set in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,682, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $26,556. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $62,093. That is a strong return on a $26,556 median debt.
Florida State College At Jacksonville ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,657, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,139 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $59,330 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,139 median debt.
Middlesex Community College Bedford came in at #13 for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,098, with out-of-state students paying around $12,170. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $16,100. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $55,428. Set against $16,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hillsborough Community College placed #14 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. 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, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,142 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Hillsborough Community College generally make around $62,731. That is a strong return on a $16,142 median debt.
El Paso Community College came in at #15 for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $8,542. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,542 median debt.
Carl Sandburg College earned the #16 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the town of Galesburg, Carl Sandburg College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,390, compared with $8,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,374 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Carl Sandburg College earn a median of $51,566 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cypress College placed #17 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Cypress College is a very large public school located in the city of Cypress. Students from in state pay about $1,150 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,379. Median earnings reach $43,533 ten years out.
Lewis And Clark Community College earned the #18 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. In-state tuition and fees average $4,340, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $13,417. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Lewis And Clark Community College generally make around $54,276. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pensacola State College came in at #19 for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,361, with out-of-state students paying around $9,463. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $10,000. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Pensacola State College earn a median of $46,690 early in their careers. Set against $10,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fayetteville Technical Community College placed #20 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. In-state tuition and fees average $2,628, while out-of-state students pay about $8,772. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $16,909. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College earned the #21 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Set in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,144, while out-of-state students pay about $9,094. Students borrow a median of $9,817 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Kalamazoo Valley Community College generally make around $52,947. Set against $9,817 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tarrant County College District came in at #22 for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. 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, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $15,148. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $65,537 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Illinois Valley Community College placed #23 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Located in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,200, with out-of-state students paying around $16,385. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $8,099 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Illinois Valley Community College generally make around $33,224. That is a strong return on a $8,099 median debt.
Florence Darlington Technical College landed the #24 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist value this year. Florence Darlington Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Florence. Students from in state pay about $4,636 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,772. Students borrow a median of $7,230 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Florence Darlington Technical College generally make around $34,948. That is a strong return on a $7,230 median debt.
South Florida State College placed #25 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Set in the suburb of Avon Park, South Florida State College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,165, compared with $11,859 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $8,204. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of South Florida State College earn a median of $42,415 early in their careers. Set against $8,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s dental hygiene/hygienist value ranking:
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 · 251 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 251 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).
[Dental Hygiene/Hygienist](/majors/health-care-professions/dental-support-services/dental-hygiene-hygienist/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
