2026 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Minnesota
[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 2026 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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2026 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Minnesota
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
Century College tops our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools in Minnesota. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,214 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $29,300. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Century College generally make around $47,789. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Cloud Technical And Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,124. Students borrow a median of $25,592 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of St Cloud Technical And Community College earn a median of $45,787 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Minnesota State Community And Technical College one of the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. 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. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $17,500. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $45,942. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt.
Normandale Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,329. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Normandale Community College generally make around $62,751. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Lakes College Brainerd earned it the #5 place for dental hygiene/hygienist. 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. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $14,479 in student loans. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $44,264. That is a strong return on a $14,479 median debt.
Rochester Community And Technical College came in at #6 for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rochester. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Herzing University Minneapolis placed #7 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Herzing University Minneapolis is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of St. Louis Park. Students from in state pay about $13,450 in tuition and fees. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $26,871 in student loans. 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. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Lake Superior College placed #8 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Set in the city of Duluth, Lake Superior College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,785. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Lake Superior College generally make around $50,993. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #9 for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $23,829. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $64,936 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #10 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $27,000. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $62,496 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Minnesota State University Mankato admits about 88% of applicants.
Metropolitan State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,840. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. 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. The acceptance rate is 99%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
