2026 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in New Jersey
[Dental Assisting/Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/dental-support-services/dental-assisting-assistant/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 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 New Jersey
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dental assisting/assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools
Leading the list is Camden County College, our #1 best value for dental assisting/assistant in New Jersey. Camden County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blackwood. In-state tuition and fees average $4,320, with out-of-state students paying around $4,416. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $15,922. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Camden County College earn a median of $47,009 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,922 median debt.
Advantage Career Institute is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental assisting/assistant, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Eatontown, Advantage Career Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $4,856 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Advantage Career Institute generally make around $31,590.
American Institute Somerset is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental assisting/assistant, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Somerset, American Institute Somerset is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $11,471. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $25,355. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at American Institute Toms River earned it the #4 place for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the suburb of Toms River, American Institute Toms River is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $11,471. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from American Institute Toms River generally make around $25,355. That is a strong return on a $11,471 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in dental assisting/assistant will find it at American Institute Cherry Hill, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Cherry Hill, American Institute Cherry Hill is a small private for-profit university. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,471 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from American Institute Cherry Hill generally make around $25,355. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
American Institute Clifton ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. American Institute Clifton is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of CLIFTON. Students borrow a median of $11,471 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from American Institute Clifton generally make around $25,355. That is a strong return on a $11,471 median debt.
Fortis Institute Lawrenceville came in at #7 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Fortis Institute Lawrenceville is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $11,250 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Fortis Institute Lawrenceville earn a median of $25,232 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fortis Institute Wayne came in at #8 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Located in the suburb of Wayne, Fortis Institute Wayne is a small private for-profit university. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $21,875 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $47,754. Set against $21,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lincoln Technical Institute Iselin landed the #9 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Located in the suburb of Iselin, Lincoln Technical Institute Iselin is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $10,174. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Lincoln Technical Institute Iselin generally make around $30,560. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
More Dental Assisting/Assistant Rankings
View All Dental Assisting/Assistant Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
