2026 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in Florida
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 43 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 Florida
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
For return on investment in dental assisting/assistant, no school beat Florida State College At Jacksonville this year. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,657, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $19,139 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $59,330. That is a strong return on a $19,139 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hillsborough Community College earned it the #2 place for dental assisting/assistant. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,491, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $16,142. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $62,731. Set against $16,142 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gulf Coast State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental assisting/assistant, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Panama City, Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,370, while out-of-state students pay about $8,635. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $8,286 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Gulf Coast State College generally make around $54,550. Set against $8,286 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes South Florida State College one of the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Located in the suburb of Avon Park, South Florida State College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,165, with out-of-state students paying around $11,859. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $8,204. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from South Florida State College generally make around $42,415. Set against $8,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indian River State College earned it the #5 place for dental assisting/assistant. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,764 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,201. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $10,492. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Indian River State College earn a median of $44,082 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt.
Pasco Hernando Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Located in the suburb of New Port Richey, Pasco Hernando Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,155 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,032 for out-of-state students. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,908 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $53,856. Set against $14,908 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miami Dade College earned the #7 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,838, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $40,267. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Florida State College placed #8 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Eastern Florida State College is a large public school located in the city of Melbourne. In-state tuition and fees average $2,791, while out-of-state students pay about $10,976. Students borrow a median of $18,123 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Eastern Florida State College earn a median of $57,021 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,123 median debt.
Daytona State College earned the #9 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,106, while out-of-state students pay about $11,994. Students borrow a median of $14,227 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Daytona State College earn a median of $47,849 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tallahassee Community College earned the #10 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Tallahassee Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,026, with out-of-state students paying around $8,062. Students borrow a median of $11,417 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Tallahassee Community College generally make around $51,709. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Palm Beach State College placed #11 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Palm Beach State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lake Worth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,050, compared with $10,910 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Palm Beach State College generally make around $63,723. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Fe College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Santa Fe College is a large public school located in the suburb of Gainesville. Students from in state pay about $2,563 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,189 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,875 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Santa Fe College earn a median of $56,722 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,875 median debt.
Manatee Technical College earned the #13 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Located in the suburb of Bradenton, Manatee Technical College is a small public university. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $9,726. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $28,447. That is a strong return on a $9,726 median debt.
Technical Education Center Osceola earned the #14 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Technical Education Center Osceola is a small public school located in the suburb of Kissimmee. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $10,812 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Technical Education Center Osceola generally make around $29,420. That is a strong return on a $10,812 median debt.
Orange Technical College Orlando Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Set in the city of Orlando, Orange Technical College Orlando Campus is a small public institution. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $8,611 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Orange Technical College Orlando Campus generally make around $28,220. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Erwin Technical College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Located in the city of Tampa, Erwin Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $13,595. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Erwin Technical College earn a median of $24,264 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,595 median debt.
Charlotte Technical College landed the #17 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Set in the suburb of Port Charlotte, Charlotte Technical College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,110, compared with $12,110 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,875 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Charlotte Technical College earn a median of $27,852 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
First Coast Technical College earned the #18 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Augustine, First Coast Technical College is a small public university. Median earnings reach $33,784 ten years out.
Broward College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Set in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Broward College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,830 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,952. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $13,110. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Broward College earn a median of $51,328 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,110 median debt.
Lorenzo Walker Technical College earned the #20 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Naples, Lorenzo Walker Technical College is a small public institution. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $36,815.
Atlantic Technical College earned the #21 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Atlantic Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Coconut Creek. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $9,222. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Atlantic Technical College generally make around $33,146. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida National University Main Campus placed #22 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Located in the suburb of Hialeah, Florida National University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,368. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $7,125 in student loans. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Florida National University Main Campus earn a median of $20,203 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Compu Med Vocational Careers Corp placed #23 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Compu Med Vocational Careers Corp is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Hialeah. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Compu Med Vocational Careers Corp earn a median of $22,750 early in their careers.
Ultimate Medical Academy Clearwater placed #24 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the city of Clearwater, Ultimate Medical Academy Clearwater is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Ultimate Medical Academy Clearwater generally make around $20,029. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Concorde Career Institute Tampa came in at #25 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Concorde Career Institute Tampa is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Tampa. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $9,500. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Concorde Career Institute Tampa earn a median of $27,152 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Rest of the Top 32 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s dental assisting/assistant value ranking:
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 · 43 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
