This article will list the 20 best schools for a dental hygienist associate’s degree.
Our top 20 dental hygienist school associate’s programs are:
- Halifax Community College
- Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
- Lewis and Clark Community College
- Wayne Community College
- Lancaster County Career and Technical Center
- South Florida State College
- Colby Community College
- Concorde Career College – Aurora
- Eastern Florida State College
- Carl Sandburg College
- Lake Land College
- Athens Technical College
- George C. Wallace State College
- Catawba Valley Community College
- Farmingdale State College
- Northern Wyoming Community College
- Shawnee State University
- Central Georgia Technical College
- Southeastern Technical College
- Central Carolina Community College
Graduating with an associate’s degree in dental hygiene prepares the student to be a valuable part of a team in a dental office. A dental hygienist’s job includes a wide variety of responsibilities, including cleaning and treating patients’ teeth, taking x-rays, documenting patients’ care, educating patients, and assisting the dentist with other tasks. Dental hygiene is a promising career, as it is projected to grow by more than 10% in the next several years. This will help graduates of dental hygiene associate’s programs find fulfilling work with a competitive salary.
Dental Hygienist Associate’s Degree Methodology
We created this list by ranking dental hygiene associate degree programs using two criteria: quality and value. The quality is calculated based on graduation rate and student-teacher ratio. Value is determined by the tuition.
Reviewing Each Top Dental Hygienist School:
20. Central Carolina Community College
Sanford, North Carolina
Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
Central Carolina Community College offers a five-semester AAS degree program in dental hygiene. Students will learn how to take patient histories, note abnormalities, plan care, teach oral hygiene, clean teeth, take x-rays, and perform other duties and procedures related to dental hygiene care. Graduates of the program will be prepared to take both national and state licensure examinations.
Tuition: $6,100
19. Southeastern Technical College
Vidalia, Georgia
Dental Hygiene Associate of Applied Science
At Southeastern Technical college, students can earn an AAS in dental hygiene after completing an 86-credit program. The curriculum is designed as a sequence of courses that prepare students for positions in the dental profession. The program aims to develop the academic, technical, and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. The program can be completed in six semesters, and it accepts new students each summer.
Tuition: $4,581
18. Central Georgia Technical College
Warner Robins, Georgia
Dental Hygiene Associate Degree
Central Georgia Technical College offers one of the most affordable associate’s degrees in dental hygiene. The 83-credit occupational program provides the knowledge and skills needed to prepare participants for the dental hygiene profession. Graduates are trained in the fundamentals of dental hygiene. Additionally, students will graduate well prepared for licensure, employment, and upward mobility in the field.
Tuition: $2,446
17. Shawnee State University
Portsmouth, Ohio
Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
Shawnee State University’s AAS in dental hygiene is a five-semester program that combines classroom, laboratory, and clinical experience. The 74-credit program is designed to educate and prepare competent dental healthcare professionals who are trained in oral care services and treatment, as well as dental health education, home care instructions, and diet and nutritional counseling. Graduates are eligible to take the National Board Dental Hygiene examination.
Tuition: $9,778
16. Northern Wyoming Community College
Sheridan, Wyoming
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Dental Hygiene
Northern Wyoming Community College offers one of the leading programs in the Rocky Mountain region in dental hygiene. The school’s cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art equipment provide students with current didactic and clinical experiences. The competitive program accepts 24 students a year, and it partners with the University of Wyoming to offer the option of simultaneously completing a bachelor’s degree. The program includes rotations to several off-site clinics, as well as a full on-campus dental hygiene clinic.
Tuition: $8,642
15. Farmingdale State College
Farmingdale, New York
Associate in Applied Science in Dental Health
Farmingdale State College offers a 70-credit AAS in dental hygiene that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The program prepares students for licensure and entry into the field, as well as for certification in the administration of local infiltration anesthesia and nitrous oxide anesthesia. Students in the program will perform a variety of comprehensive services at the school’s technologically advanced Dental Hygiene Care Center.
Tuition: $7,948
14. Catawba Valley Community College
Hickory, North Carolina
Associate in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
The dental hygiene degree program at Catawba Valley Community College is a two-year associate’s degree program that requires four semesters and one summer of study. The 75- to 76-credit curriculum provides students with the knowledge and skills to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate hygiene care for both the individual and the community. Students will learn important skills, such as how to take patient histories, note abnormalities, plan care, teach oral hygiene, clean teeth, and take x-rays.
Tuition: $6,777
13. George C. Wallace State Community College
Hanceville, Alabama
Associate in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
At George C. Wallace, students can earn their AAS in dental hygiene at a program with a top-notch reputation, a 90% licensure rate, and an excellent job placement rate. The 76-credit program accepts 30 students each year, and it can be completed in two years. The curriculum includes clinical rotations, allowing for hands-on experience. Some classes are offered in a hybrid format, giving the students flexibility to complete some of their requirements at home.
Tuition: $6,107
12. Athens Technical College
Athens, Georgia
Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
Athens Technical College offers a great option for those looking to earn an associate’s degree in dental hygiene. The 86-credit program is financial aid eligible and accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Students will graduate prepared to be qualified dental hygienists with the knowledge and skills to respond to patients’ needs in an ethical and professional manner. Upon graduation, students will be prepared to pass all the necessary boards and examinations.
Tuition: $5,725
11. Lake Land College
Mattoon, Illinois
Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
Lake Land College offers an affordable associate’s degree in dental hygiene. This intensive, two-year program combines classroom learning with laboratory and clinical experience in various healthcare agencies. The program emphasis is on patient treatment, such as the removal of calculus, stain, and deposits from teeth; prevention of oral disease; and dental health education. The program is fully accredited by the ADA and 71.5 credits are required to graduate.
Tuition: $4,720
10. Carl Sandburg College
Galesburg, Illinois
Associate in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
At Carl Sandburg College, students can earn an AAS in dental hygiene in two years. This limited-enrollment program requires the completion of 78.5 total credit hours. The program combines classroom learning with hands-on training. Students will graduate prepared to take the National Dental Hygiene Board examination, as well as the clinical and state exams.
Tuition: $4,030
9. Eastern Florida State College
Cocoa, Florida
Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene
Eastern Florida State College offers an 88-credit associate degree program in dental hygiene. The program prepares students for careers as dental hygienists with a focus on preventing and treating oral diseases. The curriculum includes extensive supervised instruction in pre-clinical and clinical practice. Graduates will be fully prepared for national, state, and regional board examinations.
Tuition: $3,445
8. Concorde Career College – Aurora
Aurora, Colorado
Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene
The AAS degree in dental hygiene at Concorde Career College is a great option for those looking to earn a quick degree, as it can be completed in as little as 18 months. Students in the program will learn to provide cleaning, take x-rays, and promote oral health. The program is financial aid eligible, and it is fully accredited. The comprehensive curriculum includes anatomy and physiology, dental materials, dental office management, dental radiography, periodontology, dental public health, and dental law and ethics.
Tuition: $68,676 (editor’s update August 2023)
7. Colby Community College
Colby, Kansas
Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
At Colby Community College, students can earn an AAS in dental hygiene, fully preparing them to enter the field. This program, accredited by the ADA, sets the standard for dental hygiene programs in Kansas. This competitive program accepts only 12 students each year, and students will benefit from a very low student-to-faculty ratio. CCC boasts of an above-average pass rate for both the national and regional clinical examinations.
Tuition: $9,655
6. South Florida State College
Avon Park, Florida
Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene
South Florida State College’s Associate of Science in dental hygiene is an 88-credit program that can be completed in two years when studying full time. The fully accredited program offers all daytime classes. Upon program completion, students are eligible to take the DANB exam. Graduates of the program have a 100% national board pass rate, as well as a 100% employment rate.
Tuition: $4,228
5. Lancaster County Career and Technology Center
Street, Pennsylvania
Associate in Specialized Technology in Dental Hygiene
Lancaster County Career and Technology Center offers an AST in dental hygiene that can be completed in as little as 22 months. The program combines classroom, theory, and laboratory experience on topics such as patient assessment, documentation, prevention techniques, local anesthetic, sealants, fluoride application, and radiation. Graduates of the program will be eligible to take both state and national board exams.
Tuition: $7,324
4. Wayne Community College
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
Students at Wayne Community College can earn an associate’s degree in dental hygiene through an interactive program that includes courses, labs, and clinical experiences. Students will have opportunities, through both on-campus and community experience, to train to be valuable assets in a high-tech, modern dental office. The curriculum teaches skills such as taking medical and dental histories, teaching oral hygiene, scaling and polishing teeth, taking x-rays, and applying preventative agents.
Tuition: $5,900
3. Lewis and Clark Community College
Godfrey, Illinois
Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
Lewis and Clark Community College offers a dental hygiene AAS degree program that boasts of a 100% graduate employment rate. In addition, 100% of last year’s graduates passed the clinical exam on their first try. This cutting-edge program includes access to top-notch faculty and advanced training facilities. The 79.5-credit curriculum incorporates real-world experience with classroom learning through clinics, as well as through interprofessional collaborative programs.
Tuition: $4,755
2. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Valdosta, Georgia
Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene
At Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, students can earn an affordable associate’s degree in dental hygiene. The 92-credit curriculum includes classroom and clinical instruction in oral anatomy, radiology, pharmacology, clinical dental hygiene, non-surgical periodontal therapy, and preventative dentistry. The competitive clinical portion of the program is five semesters. The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Tuition: $2,663
1. Halifax Community College
Weldon, North Carolina
Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
Halifax Community College offers the top option for an associate’s degree in dental hygiene on our list. This highly affordable, two-year program requires students to complete 73 credit hours. The program’s mission is to facilitate the development of professional, ethical, and competent entry-level hygienists. The curriculum provides the students with all the knowledge and skills needed to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate dental hygiene care. Students will graduate eligible and prepared for taking the national and clinical licensing examinations.
Tuition: $3,514
Related Resources:
- Types of Associate’s Degrees
- Top Dual Enrollment Programs Online
- Highest Paying Associate’s Degrees
- Free College Tuition States
- Online Associates Degree Best Colleges
