2027 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Minnesota

[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 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 Minnesota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dental hygiene/hygienist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools
St Cloud Technical And Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools in Minnesota. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical And Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,124. Students borrow a median of $25,592 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from St Cloud Technical And Community College generally make around $45,787. That is a strong return on a $25,592 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Century College one of the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Century College is a large public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,214. Students borrow a median of $29,300 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Century College generally make around $47,789. Set against $29,300 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,908. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Minnesota State Community And Technical College earn a median of $45,942 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Normandale Community College earned it the #4 place for dental hygiene/hygienist. Located in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,329. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $62,751. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Lakes College Brainerd came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Brainerd. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,249. Students borrow a median of $14,479 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Central Lakes College Brainerd generally make around $44,264. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rochester Community And Technical College came in at #6 for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the city of Rochester, Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,389. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Rochester Community And Technical College earn a median of $46,805 early in their careers. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lake Superior College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Lake Superior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Duluth. Students from in state pay about $5,785 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Lake Superior College earn a median of $50,993 early in their careers. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Herzing University Minneapolis placed #8 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Located in the city of St. Louis Park, Herzing University Minneapolis is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,450. Students borrow a median of $26,871 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Herzing University Minneapolis earn a median of $50,206 early in their careers. Set against $26,871 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #9 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist value this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Students borrow a median of $23,829 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $64,936. Set against $23,829 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Metropolitan State University placed #10 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,840 in tuition and fees. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Metropolitan State University earn a median of $60,849 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $62,496. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
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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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.