2026 Best Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Master’s Degree Schools
Dental Hygiene/Hygienist degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 364 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for dental hygiene/hygienist students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Dental Hygiene/Hygienist in the United States
These are the top schools for a master’s degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, based on student outcomes and program quality.
Top Schools in Dental Hygiene/Hygienist
Our analysis ranked Old Dominion University the best school in the country for a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 38 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Old Dominion University in the most recent year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Old Dominion University earn a median of $63,145 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,378.
See the full dental hygiene/hygienist program report for Old Dominion University
Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences generally make around $75,871. Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans.
Get the full dental hygiene/hygienist details for Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences
University Of New Mexico Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, ranking #3. University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 11 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at University Of New Mexico Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dental hygiene/hygienist degree from University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn around $55,003 in the first couple years of their career. University Of New Mexico Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,378 in student loans.
More information about a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist from University Of New Mexico Main Campus
University Of Bridgeport is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Bridgeport, University Of Bridgeport is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 41% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at University Of Bridgeport in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $68,774 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,239 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist from University Of Bridgeport
Other Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Dental Hygiene/Hygienist rankings across degree levels:
View All Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 364 schools evaluated.
- 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.
