2026 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in the Far Western Region
[Dental Assisting/Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/dental-support-services/dental-assisting-assistant/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong dental assisting/assistant education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 125 schools to find the best return on investment for dental assisting/assistant students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dental assisting/assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools
For return on investment in dental assisting/assistant, no school beat Cerritos College this year. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $11,306. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $34,175. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fresno City College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Students borrow a median of $7,234 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $37,470. Set against $7,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oxnard College earned it the #3 place for dental assisting/assistant. Oxnard College is a large public school located in the city of Oxnard. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,393 ten years after entry.
San Diego Mesa College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental assisting/assistant, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $6,999 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $29,852. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasadena City College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt.
College Of San Mateo came in at #6 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, compared with $11,428 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $12,831. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,172 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $12,831 median debt.
Moreno Valley College landed the #7 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Set in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,428, with out-of-state students paying around $12,498. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $12,643 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $45,515. That is a strong return on a $12,643 median debt.
Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #8 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,318, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $80,047. That is a strong return on a $14,692 median debt.
Bates Technical College came in at #9 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Tacoma, Bates Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,027 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,165 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $50,051 ten years out.
Kapiolani Community College landed the #10 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Kapiolani Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Honolulu. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,284, while out-of-state students pay about $8,420. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,738 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $48,210. That is a strong return on a $14,738 median debt.
Sacramento City College landed the #11 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,288 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $13,180 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Sacramento City College generally make around $46,522. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Reedley College came in at #12 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Reedley College is a large public school located in the town of Reedley. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $30,520. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bellingham Technical College earned the #13 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Bellingham Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Bellingham. Students from in state pay about $4,431 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,809. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,748.
Cypress College placed #14 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Located in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,150, compared with $12,379 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $43,533 ten years out.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirkland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,997, while out-of-state students pay about $12,062. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $23,750. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $77,431. That is a strong return on a $23,750 median debt.
Allan Hancock College placed #16 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, compared with $9,892 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,786.
Diablo Valley College landed the #17 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,312 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,320 for out-of-state students. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,205 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $27,813. Set against $9,205 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Spokane Community College placed #18 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Spokane. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,461, with out-of-state students paying around $6,612. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $8,631. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Spokane Community College earn a median of $34,974 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,631 median debt.
Clover Park Technical College placed #19 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Lakewood. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,634. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $15,154. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $36,180. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Southern Nevada earned the #20 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public school located in the city of Las Vegas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,358, while out-of-state students pay about $13,024. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,980 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $75,252. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Seattle Community College Central Campus landed the #21 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle Community College Central Campus is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,238 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,796. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,699 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $53,048. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Orange Coast College earned the #22 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,392, compared with $11,640 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. Set against $8,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chemeketa Community College earned the #23 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Chemeketa Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Salem. Students from in state pay about $6,345 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,040. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $15,755 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Chemeketa Community College generally make around $33,802. That is a strong return on a $15,755 median debt.
Palomar College came in at #24 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,354, with out-of-state students paying around $10,650. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,300.
College Of The Redwoods landed the #25 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Set in the rural area of Eureka, College Of The Redwoods is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,196, compared with $8,852 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $20,000. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from College Of The Redwoods generally make around $98,703. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s dental assisting/assistant value ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 125 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
