2027 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Tennessee
[Dental Hygiene/Hygienist](/majors/health-care-professions/dental-support-services/dental-hygiene-hygienist/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 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 Tennessee
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 Chattanooga State Community College the best value for a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist in Tennessee. Located in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,772, with out-of-state students paying around $17,756. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Chattanooga State Community College earn a median of $35,909 early in their careers. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tennessee Wesleyan College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the town of Athens, Tennessee Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,814. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $29,750. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Tennessee Wesleyan College earn a median of $58,859 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in dental hygiene/hygienist will find it at Tennessee State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, with out-of-state students paying around $22,416. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $17,900 in student loans. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $44,192. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes East Tennessee State University one of the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,216, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. Students borrow a median of $15,687 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from East Tennessee State University generally make around $51,316. That is a strong return on a $15,687 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
South College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, South College is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,535. Students borrow a median of $24,533 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $51,389. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lincoln Memorial University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Harrogate. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,938. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $20,693. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Lincoln Memorial University earn a median of $64,307 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Concorde Career College Memphis ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the city of Memphis, Concorde Career College Memphis is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $19,881 in student loans. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $34,092. Set against $19,881 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Concorde Career College Memphis admits about 95% of applicants.
Remington College Nashville Campus ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Remington College Nashville Campus is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $16,258 in tuition and fees. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $37,125. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
