2026 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in Pennsylvania
[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 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 18 schools to find the best return on investment for dental assisting/assistant students.
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2026 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in Pennsylvania
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the dental assisting/assistant degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools
Westmoreland County Community College earned the #1 spot for value among dental assisting/assistant schools in Pennsylvania. Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Youngwood. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,306, with out-of-state students paying around $14,728. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $11,000. Median earnings reach $37,439 ten years out. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Luzerne County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental assisting/assistant, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Nanticoke, Luzerne County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,600, compared with $16,260 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $14,750. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Luzerne County Community College earn a median of $41,650 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental assisting/assistant, landing the #3 spot this year. Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a large public school located in the city of Harrisburg. Students from in state pay about $6,975 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,472. Students borrow a median of $20,867 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg earn a median of $52,497 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,867 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in dental assisting/assistant will find it at Manor College, which ranked #4. Manor College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Jenkintown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,780. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Manor College generally make around $42,819. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Greater Altoona Career And Technology Center earned it the #5 place for dental assisting/assistant. Greater Altoona Career And Technology Center is a small public school located in the city of Altoona. Students borrow a median of $17,867 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Greater Altoona Career And Technology Center earn a median of $47,891 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lancaster County Career And Technology Center ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Lancaster County Career And Technology Center is a small public school located in the suburb of Willow Street. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $13,858 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Lancaster County Career And Technology Center generally make around $48,126. That is a strong return on a $13,858 median debt.
Yti Career Institute York landed the #7 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Located in the suburb of York, Yti Career Institute York is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $9,500. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $27,842. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Great Lakes Institute Of Technology came in at #8 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Erie, Great Lakes Institute Of Technology is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $10,690 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Great Lakes Institute Of Technology earn a median of $24,398 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,690 median debt.
All State Career School Lester landed the #9 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Set in the suburb of Essington, All State Career School Lester is a small private for-profit institution. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,666 in student loans. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of All State Career School Lester earn a median of $26,998 early in their careers. Set against $14,666 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Institute Of Medical Careers placed #10 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Institute Of Medical Careers is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Pittsburgh. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $13,166. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Institute Of Medical Careers generally make around $28,910.
Fortis Institute Scranton earned the #11 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Scranton, Fortis Institute Scranton is a small private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,348. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $28,992 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $31,937. Set against $28,992 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Harcum College earned the #12 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Harcum College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,000. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $25,049 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $53,534. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
