Dental Hygiene Schools and Programs

ASO Staff Writers
By
Updated on August 29, 2023

Dental Hygiene Programs Overview

If a career with a competitive salary and faster-than-average job growth sounds appealing, check out the field of dental hygiene. Dental hygienists can enter the workforce with as little as a certificate or associate degree, and may choose to work their way up to a master’s or doctoral degree in dentistry. In addition to cleaning teeth and examining patients for signs of oral disease, dental hygienists also educate patients to improve and maintain their oral health.

In this guide, learn more about the path to becoming a dental hygienist and get tips on which features to look for in a dental hygiene program below. This page includes a breakdown of the different types of hygiene schools and courses, and includes a list of the best dental hygiene programs in the country.

Best Dental Hygiene Programs

With new dental hygiene programs popping up all over the nation, it can be hard for students to know which schools offer the best options. Take a look at the list below, which ranks the best schools in the nation based on a variety of factors, and describes some of the top choices to give prospective students a look at top programs at-a-glance.

#1 Dental Hygiene Schools and Programs

Idaho State University

  • Location-markerPocatello, ID
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$5,928
  • Out-of-state$22,224
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$7,982
  • Out-of-state$24,278
  • Retention Rate64%
  • Acceptance RateN/A
  • Students Enrolled12,402
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment52%
  • AccreditationYes
#2 Dental Hygiene Schools and Programs

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

  • Location-markerKirkland, WA
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$2,875
  • Out-of-state$7,812
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-StateN/A
  • Out-of-stateN/A
  • Retention RateN/A
  • Acceptance RateN/A
  • Students Enrolled3,620
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment21%
  • AccreditationYes
#3 Dental Hygiene Schools and Programs

University of Maine at Augusta

  • Location-markerAugusta, ME
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$7,170
  • Out-of-state$17,340
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-StateN/A
  • Out-of-stateN/A
  • Retention Rate61%
  • Acceptance RateN/A
  • Students Enrolled4,361
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment76%
  • AccreditationYes
#4 Dental Hygiene Schools and Programs

College of Southern Nevada

  • Location-markerLas Vegas, NV
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$3,083
  • Out-of-state$10,273
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-StateN/A
  • Out-of-stateN/A
  • Retention RateN/A
  • Acceptance RateN/A
  • Students Enrolled33,942
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment46%
  • AccreditationYes
#5 Dental Hygiene Schools and Programs

University of Southern Indiana

  • Location-markerEvansville, IN
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$7,986
  • Out-of-state$19,296
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$9,486
  • Out-of-state$18,528
  • Retention Rate67%
  • Acceptance Rate93%
  • Students Enrolled10,705
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment54%
  • AccreditationYes
#6 Dental Hygiene Schools and Programs

West Liberty University

  • Location-markerWest Liberty, WV
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$7,990
  • Out-of-state$15,930
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$6,300
  • Out-of-state$8,112
  • Retention Rate71%
  • Acceptance Rate71%
  • Students Enrolled2,496
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment40%
  • AccreditationYes
#7 Dental Hygiene Schools and Programs

University of Bridgeport

  • Location-markerBridgeport, CT
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$31,920
  • Out-of-state$31,920
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$18,612
  • Out-of-state$18,612
  • Retention Rate69%
  • Acceptance Rate55%
  • Students Enrolled5,089
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment36%
  • AccreditationYes
#8 Dental Hygiene Schools and Programs

University of Alaska Anchorage

  • Location-markerAnchorage, AK
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$6,804
  • Out-of-state$26,152
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$11,286
  • Out-of-state$23,738
  • Retention Rate66%
  • Acceptance Rate83%
  • Students Enrolled12,766
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment57%
  • AccreditationYes
#9 Dental Hygiene Schools and Programs

University of Wyoming

  • Location-markerLaramie, WY
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$3,336
  • Out-of-state$13,392
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$4,878
  • Out-of-state$14,598
  • Retention Rate76%
  • Acceptance Rate96%
  • Students Enrolled12,249
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment41%
  • AccreditationYes
#10 Dental Hygiene Schools and Programs

Missouri Southern State University

  • Location-markerJoplin, MO
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$7,289
  • Out-of-state$14,578
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$6,300
  • Out-of-state$6,300
  • Retention Rate65%
  • Acceptance Rate94%
  • Students Enrolled5,604
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment51%
  • AccreditationYes
#11 Dental Hygiene Schools and Programs

Weber State University

  • Location-markerOgden, UT
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$4,990
  • Out-of-state$14,973
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$7,476
  • Out-of-state$16,656
  • Retention Rate66%
  • Acceptance RateN/A
  • Students Enrolled29,644
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment35%
  • AccreditationYes
#12 Dental Hygiene Schools and Programs

Utah Valley University

  • Location-markerOrem, UT
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$5,122
  • Out-of-state$15,872
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$9,513
  • Out-of-state$25,391
  • Retention Rate65%
  • Acceptance RateN/A
  • Students Enrolled41,728
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment32%
  • AccreditationYes
#13 Dental Hygiene Schools and Programs

St. Petersburg College

  • Location-markerClearwater, FL
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$1,943
  • Out-of-state$7,774
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-StateN/A
  • Out-of-stateN/A
  • Retention RateN/A
  • Acceptance RateN/A
  • Students Enrolled28,853
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment59%
  • AccreditationYes
#14 Dental Hygiene Schools and Programs

University of New England

  • Location-markerBiddeford, ME
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$37,390
  • Out-of-state$37,390
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$23,498
  • Out-of-state$23,498
  • Retention Rate81%
  • Acceptance Rate84%
  • Students Enrolled7,483
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment47%
  • AccreditationYes
#15 Dental Hygiene Schools and Programs

University of Detroit Mercy

  • Location-markerDetroit, MI
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$28,840
  • Out-of-state$28,840
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$29,268
  • Out-of-state$29,268
  • Retention Rate82%
  • Acceptance Rate77%
  • Students Enrolled5,080
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment20%
  • AccreditationYes
#16 Dental Hygiene Schools and Programs

West Virginia University

  • Location-markerMorgantown, WV
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$8,976
  • Out-of-state$25,320
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$10,134
  • Out-of-state$26,154
  • Retention Rate79%
  • Acceptance Rate84%
  • Students Enrolled26,839
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment34%
  • AccreditationYes
#17 Dental Hygiene Schools and Programs

Ferris State University

  • Location-markerBig Rapids, MI
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$12,376
  • Out-of-state$12,376
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$7,608
  • Out-of-state$7,608
  • Retention Rate76%
  • Acceptance Rate87%
  • Students Enrolled12,472
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment29%
  • AccreditationYes
#18 Dental Hygiene Schools and Programs

University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

  • Location-markerFort Smith, AR
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$4,104
  • Out-of-state$11,376
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$7,092
  • Out-of-state$11,394
  • Retention Rate65%
  • Acceptance RateN/A
  • Students Enrolled6,265
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment55%
  • AccreditationYes
#19 Dental Hygiene Schools and Programs

University of South Dakota

  • Location-markerVermillion, SD
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$7,697
  • Out-of-state$11,172
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$6,062
  • Out-of-state$11,656
  • Retention Rate78%
  • Acceptance Rate86%
  • Students Enrolled9,920
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment50%
  • AccreditationYes
#20 Dental Hygiene Schools and Programs

University of New Haven

  • Location-markerWest Haven, CT
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$39,000
  • Out-of-state$39,000
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$16,920
  • Out-of-state$16,920
  • Retention Rate77%
  • Acceptance Rate83%
  • Students Enrolled6,793
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment28%
  • AccreditationYes
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