2027 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in North Carolina
[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.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools.
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2027 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in North Carolina
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 Wayne Community College this year. Located in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,566 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $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.
Students looking for strong value in dental hygiene/hygienist will find it at Central Piedmont Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $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. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in dental hygiene/hygienist will find it at Fayetteville Technical Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,628 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,772. 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. Set against $16,909 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Central Carolina Community College one of the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Set in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,711, with out-of-state students paying around $8,855. Students borrow a median of $10,266 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Central Carolina Community College generally make around $44,885. That is a strong return on a $10,266 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Forsyth Technical Community College one of the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,276, compared with $6,884 for out-of-state students. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $16,374 in student loans. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $56,717. That is a strong return on a $16,374 median debt.
Wake Technical Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,254, compared with $6,862 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,900 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $38,673. Set against $17,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Halifax Community College placed #7 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Halifax Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Weldon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,608, while out-of-state students pay about $8,752. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Halifax Community College earn a median of $70,982 early in their careers.
Coastal Carolina Community College came in at #8 for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Coastal Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,512 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,656 for out-of-state students. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $7,125 in student loans. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Coastal Carolina Community College earn a median of $50,081 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,125 median debt.
Cape Fear Community College earned the #9 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,748, compared with $8,892 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,388 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Cape Fear Community College generally make around $42,889. Set against $12,388 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Catawba Valley Community College placed #10 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Catawba Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Hickory. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,427, with out-of-state students paying around $7,803. Students borrow a median of $9,842 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $55,128. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College placed #11 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Set in the city of Asheville, Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,882, while out-of-state students pay about $9,026. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $18,883. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College earn a median of $36,817 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,883 median debt.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $15,431 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $54,207. Set against $15,431 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
Guilford Technical Community College came in at #13 for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the suburb of Jamestown, Guilford Technical Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,320, while out-of-state students pay about $7,696. Students borrow a median of $13,231 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Guilford Technical Community College generally make around $45,689. Set against $13,231 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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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.
