2027 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in the Southeast Region
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 84 schools to find the best return on investment for dental hygiene/hygienist students.
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2027 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dental hygiene/hygienist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools
Our analysis ranked Central Piedmont Community College the best value for a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $43,908 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Georgia Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,978 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,651 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $39,272. That is a strong return on a $12,651 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in dental hygiene/hygienist will find it at Wayne Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,566, compared with $8,710 for out-of-state students. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes St Petersburg College one of the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Set in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,682, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $24,734. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $60,694 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,734 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in dental hygiene/hygienist will find it at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, which ranked #5. Set in the rural area of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,480 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,048. Students borrow a median of $10,864 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College earn a median of $40,452 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hillsborough Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. In-state tuition and fees average $2,491, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $16,142. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $62,731 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Trident Technical College placed #7 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,546, while out-of-state students pay about $8,620. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. That is a strong return on a $18,116 median debt.
Fayetteville Technical Community College came in at #8 for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,628, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,909 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $40,584. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florence Darlington Technical College landed the #9 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist value this year. Set in the rural area of Florence, Florence Darlington Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,636 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,772 for out-of-state students. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $7,230 in student loans. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $34,948. Set against $7,230 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida State College At Jacksonville placed #10 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $19,139. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $59,330. That is a strong return on a $19,139 median debt.
Pensacola State College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Located in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,361 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,463. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Pensacola State College earn a median of $46,690 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt.
South Florida State College landed the #12 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist value this year. Located in the suburb of Avon Park, South Florida State College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,165, while out-of-state students pay about $11,859. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $8,204. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $42,415. That is a strong return on a $8,204 median debt.
Columbus Technical College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Columbus Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $4,052, compared with $7,262 for out-of-state students. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $15,845 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Columbus Technical College generally make around $37,936. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Atlanta Technical College earned the #14 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,382, with out-of-state students paying around $5,950. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $17,655 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Atlanta Technical College generally make around $35,441. Set against $17,655 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Midlands Technical College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,100, with out-of-state students paying around $14,700. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $17,611. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $56,771. Set against $17,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Virginia Western Community College earned the #16 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Roanoke. In-state tuition and fees average $5,400, while out-of-state students pay about $11,838. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $11,500. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $61,030. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Big Sandy Community And Technical College landed the #17 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist value this year. Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Prestonsburg. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $11,588. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Big Sandy Community And Technical College earn a median of $45,951 early in their careers. Set against $11,588 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wytheville Community College earned the #18 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Wytheville Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wytheville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,007, with out-of-state students paying around $11,445. Students borrow a median of $9,542 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $55,931. Set against $9,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gulf Coast State College landed the #19 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist value this year. Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Panama City. Students from in state pay about $2,370 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,635 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,286 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Gulf Coast State College generally make around $54,550. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chattanooga State Community College earned the #20 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,772, compared with $17,756 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $13,000. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Chattanooga State Community College earn a median of $35,909 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Horry Georgetown Technical College placed #21 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Set in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,518, with out-of-state students paying around $10,978. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $19,172 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Horry Georgetown Technical College generally make around $52,297. Set against $19,172 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
York Technical College earned the #22 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the city of Rock Hill, York Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,036 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,340. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $25,404. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miami Dade College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. Students from in state pay about $2,838 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $41,314. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Germanna Community College earned the #24 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Germanna Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Locust Grove. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,257, compared with $11,648 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $10,999. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Germanna Community College generally make around $41,880. Set against $10,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bridgevalley Community And Technical College landed the #25 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist value this year. Bridgevalley Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of South Charleston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,800, with out-of-state students paying around $12,428. Students borrow a median of $14,928 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Bridgevalley Community And Technical College earn a median of $39,504 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,928 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in dental hygiene/hygienist:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 84 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 84 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.
