2027 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Illinois
[Dental Hygiene/Hygienist](/majors/health-care-professions/dental-support-services/dental-hygiene-hygienist/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong dental hygiene/hygienist education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for dental hygiene/hygienist students.
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2027 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the dental hygiene/hygienist degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools
Our analysis ranked Illinois Valley Community College the best value for a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist in Illinois. Located in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,200, while out-of-state students pay about $16,385. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $8,099 in student loans. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Illinois Valley Community College earn a median of $33,224 early in their careers. Set against $8,099 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lake Land College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,415, while out-of-state students pay about $14,301. 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. That is a strong return on a $13,625 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lewis And Clark Community College earned it the #3 place for dental hygiene/hygienist. Set in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,340 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,840. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $12,709 in student loans. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $54,031. That is a strong return on a $12,709 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in dental hygiene/hygienist will find it at Carl Sandburg College, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Galesburg, Carl Sandburg College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,390 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,900. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $10,374. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Carl Sandburg College earn a median of $51,566 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,374 median debt.
Prairie State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, landing the #5 spot this year. Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Chicago Heights. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,176, 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. That is a strong return on a $15,663 median debt.
Rock Valley College landed the #6 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist value this year. Located in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,334, while out-of-state students pay about $7,379. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $9,236. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Rock Valley College generally make around $59,574. Set against $9,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College earned the #7 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Students borrow a median of $12,272 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College earn a median of $38,982 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,272 median debt.
College Of Dupage ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $19,871 in student loans. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $59,215. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Lake County landed the #9 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist value this year. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,788, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $13,000. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $63,080 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Parkland College earned the #10 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the city of Champaign, Parkland College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,284 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,266. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $13,625. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Parkland College earn a median of $47,133 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,625 median debt.
Harper College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,894, with out-of-state students paying around $11,874. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $56,767. Set against $10,963 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Illinois Central College earned the #12 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,150 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $12,222. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Illinois Central College generally make around $53,190. 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. 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. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
