2026 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Illinois
[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.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools.
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2026 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dental hygiene/hygienist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools
For return on investment in dental hygiene/hygienist, no school beat Carl Sandburg College this year. Carl Sandburg College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Galesburg. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Carl Sandburg College generally make around $51,566. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in dental hygiene/hygienist will find it at Lake Land College, which ranked #2. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,415, compared with $14,301 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,625 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Lake Land College generally make around $58,853. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College one of the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $12,272 in student loans. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $38,982. Set against $12,272 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in dental hygiene/hygienist will find it at Lewis And Clark Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,340, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $12,709. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $54,031. Set against $12,709 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Illinois Valley Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,200 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,385. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $8,099. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $33,224. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Prairie State College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Located in the suburb of Chicago Heights, Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,176 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,064 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $15,663. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Prairie State College generally make around $37,500. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage placed #7 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Students borrow a median of $19,871 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $59,215. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harper College landed the #8 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist value this year. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,894, with out-of-state students paying around $11,874. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $10,963. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $56,767. That is a strong return on a $10,963 median debt.
College Of Lake County landed the #9 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist value this year. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,788, compared with $14,400 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $63,080. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rock Valley College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,334, while out-of-state students pay about $7,379. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $9,236 in student loans. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $59,574. That is a strong return on a $9,236 median debt.
Parkland College placed #11 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Located in the city of Champaign, Parkland College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,284, compared with $13,266 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,625 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Parkland College generally make around $47,133. That is a strong return on a $13,625 median debt.
Illinois Central College landed the #12 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist value this year. Set in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,150. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $12,222 in student loans. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Illinois Central College earn a median of $53,190 early in their careers. Set against $12,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #13 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist value this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $53,559 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Lewis University landed the #14 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist value this year. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,200. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $24,838 in student loans. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $55,718. Set against $24,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
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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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
