2027 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Arizona

[Dental Hygiene/Hygienist](/majors/health-care-professions/dental-support-services/dental-hygiene-hygienist/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 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 Arizona
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dental hygiene/hygienist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools
Pima Community College earned the #1 spot for value among dental hygiene/hygienist schools in Arizona. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,442 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $10,000. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $44,284. Set against $10,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mohave Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, landing the #2 spot this year. Mohave Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Kingman. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,208, while out-of-state students pay about $7,968. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $14,766. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Mohave Community College earn a median of $66,796 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,766 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rio Salado College earned it the #3 place for dental hygiene/hygienist. Rio Salado College is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,958. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $12,786. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of $45,744 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,786 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Phoenix College one of the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Set in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $10,750. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $32,248. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mesa Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $13,750. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Mesa Community College generally make around $56,024. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
Northern Arizona University earned the #6 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,619, with out-of-state students paying around $20,044. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $26,169. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $64,082 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,169 median debt. Northern Arizona University admits about 90% of applicants.
Carrington College Mesa placed #7 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Located in the city of Mesa, Carrington College Mesa is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $18,311 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Carrington College Mesa generally make around $45,460. 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. 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.