2027 Best Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in the The Plains States Region
Dental Hygiene/Hygienist is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their dental hygiene/hygienist programs.
College Factual analyzed 30 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Dental Hygiene/Hygienist in the The Plains States Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the dental hygiene/hygienist degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Dental Hygiene/Hygienist
No school ranked higher than University Of Minnesota Twin Cities this year for dental hygiene/hygienist. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $64,936 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,829.
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Saint Louis Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, ranking #2. Located in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public university. Saint Louis Community College awarded about 31 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Saint Louis Community College generally make around $60,906. Saint Louis Community College graduates carry a median of $11,424 in student loans.
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Central Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, ranking #3. Central Community College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Island. Central Community College awarded about 14 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dental hygiene/hygienist degree from Central Community College earn around $53,860 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
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Salina Area Technical College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, ranking #4. Salina Area Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Salina. About 11 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Salina Area Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Salina Area Technical College generally make around $38,440. Students borrow a median of $17,124 to complete this degree.
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Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. This large public university is located in the city of Mankato. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates 54% of students within six years. Minnesota State University Mankato awarded about 72 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $62,496 early in their careers. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Indian Hills Community College placed #6 among the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the town of Ottumwa, Indian Hills Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 15 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at Indian Hills Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Indian Hills Community College generally make around $57,921. Students borrow a median of $12,251 to complete this degree.
See the full dental hygiene/hygienist program report for Indian Hills Community College
University Of Nebraska Medical Center earned the #7 position for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. University Of Nebraska Medical Center is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Omaha. University Of Nebraska Medical Center awarded about 23 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $59,621 in their early career. University Of Nebraska Medical Center graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Des Moines Area Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. About 17 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $43,635 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Missouri Kansas City earned the #9 position for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates 54% of students within six years. About 33 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $60,307 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Flint Hills Technical College earned the #10 position for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Emporia. Flint Hills Technical College awarded about 16 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dental hygiene/hygienist degree from Flint Hills Technical College earn around $41,409 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,498 to complete this degree.
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Century College placed #11 among the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public institution. About 12 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Century College in the most recent year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Century College earn a median of $47,789 early in their careers. Century College graduates carry a median of $29,300 in student loans.
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University Of South Dakota ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. This large public university is located in the town of Vermillion. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 38 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Dakota in the most recent data year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of University Of South Dakota earn a median of $61,265 early in their careers. University Of South Dakota graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Kirkwood Community College earned the #13 position for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. About 22 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Kirkwood Community College in the most recent year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $36,885 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,978 to complete this degree.
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Johnson County Community College landed the #14 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Johnson County Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Overland Park. About 14 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Johnson County Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $57,969 in their early career. Johnson County Community College graduates carry a median of $13,532 in student loans.
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Missouri Southern State University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Joplin. Missouri Southern State University graduates 40% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at Missouri Southern State University in the most recent data year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Missouri Southern State University earn a median of $59,420 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,374.
See the full dental hygiene/hygienist program report for Missouri Southern State University
Herzing University Minneapolis placed #16 among the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the city of St. Louis Park, Herzing University Minneapolis is a small private not-for-profit institution. Herzing University Minneapolis graduates 36% of students within six years. Herzing University Minneapolis awarded about 38 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Herzing University Minneapolis generally make around $50,206. Students borrow a median of $26,871 to complete this degree.
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Wichita State University came in at #17 for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. About 51% of students finish within six years. About 56 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Wichita State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $56,798. Students borrow a median of $26,817 to complete this degree.
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Ozarks Technical Community College earned the #18 position for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public university. About 15 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Ozarks Technical Community College in the most recent year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Ozarks Technical Community College earn a median of $36,855 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
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North Dakota State College Of Science placed #19 among the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Located in the town of Wahpeton, North Dakota State College Of Science is a mid-sized public university. About 18 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at North Dakota State College Of Science in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from North Dakota State College Of Science generally make around $48,565. Typical student debt for the program is $15,320.
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Iowa Central Community College landed the #20 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Fort Dodge. About 13 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Iowa Central Community College in the most recent year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Iowa Central Community College earn a median of $59,746 early in their careers. Iowa Central Community College graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
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Rochester Community And Technical College placed #21 among the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rochester. There were roughly 16 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at Rochester Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $46,805 in their early career. Rochester Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
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Minnesota State Community And Technical College earned the #22 position for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Set in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 19 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Minnesota State Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their dental hygiene/hygienist degree from Minnesota State Community And Technical College earn around $45,942 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
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Hawkeye Community College landed the #23 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waterloo. About 19 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Hawkeye Community College in the most recent year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Hawkeye Community College earn a median of $32,834 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,125.
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Metropolitan State University came in at #24 for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public university. About 44% of students finish within six years. Metropolitan State University awarded about 10 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dental hygiene/hygienist degree from Metropolitan State University earn around $60,849 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Lake Superior College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Duluth. Lake Superior College awarded about 18 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Lake Superior College earn a median of $50,993 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 30 Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong dental hygiene/hygienist education:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 30 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.