2026 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Pennsylvania
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong dental hygiene/hygienist education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for dental hygiene/hygienist students.
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2026 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dental hygiene/hygienist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools
Leading the list is Westmoreland County Community College, our #1 best value for dental hygiene/hygienist in Pennsylvania. Set in the suburb of Youngwood, Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,306, while out-of-state students pay about $14,728. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $11,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $37,439. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Montgomery County Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the suburb of Blue Bell, Montgomery County Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,690, with out-of-state students paying around $17,250. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $16,707 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Montgomery County Community College generally make around $49,729. That is a strong return on a $16,707 median debt.
Luzerne County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Nanticoke, Luzerne County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,600 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,260. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $14,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Luzerne County Community College generally make around $41,650. Set against $14,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in dental hygiene/hygienist will find it at Northampton County Area Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Bethlehem, Northampton County Area Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,550 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,270. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $19,690. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Northampton County Area Community College generally make around $50,692. That is a strong return on a $19,690 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in dental hygiene/hygienist will find it at Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,975, with out-of-state students paying around $12,472. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $20,867 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg generally make around $52,497. Set against $20,867 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Community College Of Philadelphia earned the #6 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,632, with out-of-state students paying around $12,744. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $18,926 in student loans. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Community College Of Philadelphia earn a median of $34,849 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lancaster County Career And Technology Center earned the #7 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Set in the suburb of Willow Street, Lancaster County Career And Technology Center is a small public institution. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $13,858 in student loans. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Lancaster County Career And Technology Center earn a median of $48,126 early in their careers. Set against $13,858 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Manor College earned the #8 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Manor College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Jenkintown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,780. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $23,500. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $42,819. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
All State Career School Lester placed #9 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Located in the suburb of Essington, All State Career School Lester is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $14,666 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from All State Career School Lester generally make around $26,998. That is a strong return on a $14,666 median debt.
Harcum College landed the #10 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist value this year. Located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr, Harcum College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $32,000. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $25,049 in student loans. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $53,534. Set against $25,049 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fortis Institute Scranton landed the #11 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist value this year. Set in the city of Scranton, Fortis Institute Scranton is a small private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,348. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $28,992. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Fortis Institute Scranton earn a median of $31,937 early in their careers. Set against $28,992 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pennsylvania College Of Technology earned the #12 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,940, while out-of-state students pay about $25,680. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $28,383 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Pennsylvania College Of Technology generally make around $57,043. That is a strong return on a $28,383 median debt.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $56,926. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
