2026 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in the Southwest Region
[Dental Assisting/Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/dental-support-services/dental-assisting-assistant/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 67 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in the Southwest Region
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
Pima Community College earned the #1 spot for value among dental assisting/assistant schools in the Southwest Region. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Students from in state pay about $2,442 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $10,000. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $44,284 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central New Mexico Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental assisting/assistant, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,060 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $10,112. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $27,816. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in dental assisting/assistant will find it at El Paso Community College, which ranked #3. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. In-state tuition and fees average $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $8,542 in student loans. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Lamar State College Orange one of the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Orange. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,832, with out-of-state students paying around $13,824. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $18,506. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Lamar State College Orange generally make around $22,866. Set against $18,506 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Del Mar College earned it the #5 place for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,500, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $7,476 in student loans. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $40,661 early in their careers. Set against $7,476 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
New Mexico State University Dona Ana earned the #6 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,322, while out-of-state students pay about $6,360. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $10,284 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $39,399. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tarrant County College District earned the #7 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,863, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Students borrow a median of $15,148 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $65,537 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,148 median debt.
Houston Community College came in at #8 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,040, with out-of-state students paying around $5,460. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $19,223 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $56,005. That is a strong return on a $19,223 median debt.
Grayson College placed #9 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Grayson College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Denison. In-state tuition and fees average $3,000, with out-of-state students paying around $6,300. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $30,560. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Antonio College came in at #10 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,839 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $37,855. That is a strong return on a $11,839 median debt.
University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus earned the #11 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Gallup. Students from in state pay about $2,906 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,682. Students borrow a median of $10,986 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $35,132. That is a strong return on a $10,986 median debt.
Mohave Community College placed #12 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Located in the rural area of Kingman, Mohave Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,208, compared with $7,968 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,766 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Mohave Community College earn a median of $66,796 early in their careers. Set against $14,766 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tyler Junior College came in at #13 for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Located in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,424, with out-of-state students paying around $4,536. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $16,241 in student loans. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Tyler Junior College earn a median of $53,557 early in their careers. Set against $16,241 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Fe Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Set in the rural area of Santa Fe, Santa Fe Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,851, compared with $4,131 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,267 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $51,935. That is a strong return on a $15,267 median debt.
Phoenix College placed #15 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Phoenix College is a large public school located in the city of Phoenix. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Phoenix College earn a median of $32,248 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,750 median debt.
Pima Medical Institute Phoenix placed #16 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the city of Phoenix, Pima Medical Institute Phoenix is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $8,193. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Pima Medical Institute Phoenix earn a median of $29,935 early in their careers.
Rose State College placed #17 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the suburb of Midwest City, Rose State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,030, while out-of-state students pay about $11,407. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $22,500. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $70,427. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tulsa Technology Center earned the #18 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Tulsa, Tulsa Technology Center is a mid-sized public institution. Students borrow a median of $11,384 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Tulsa Technology Center earn a median of $32,406 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pima Medical Institute Mesa earned the #19 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Pima Medical Institute Mesa is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Mesa. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $8,509. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Pima Medical Institute Mesa generally make around $27,301. That is a strong return on a $8,509 median debt.
Pci Health Training Center placed #20 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Located in the city of Dallas, Pci Health Training Center is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $8,095. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $24,130. That is a strong return on a $8,095 median debt.
Pima Medical Institute Albuquerque landed the #21 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Pima Medical Institute Albuquerque is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $21,829. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Pima Medical Institute Albuquerque generally make around $39,835. That is a strong return on a $21,829 median debt.
Fortis Institute Houston placed #22 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Fortis Institute Houston is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $13,140. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Fortis Institute Houston earn a median of $19,835 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pima Medical Institute Houston earned the #23 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Houston, Pima Medical Institute Houston is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $20,505 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Pima Medical Institute Houston earn a median of $49,259 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Concorde Career College Dallas landed the #24 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Set in the city of Dallas, Concorde Career College Dallas is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $17,375. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Concorde Career College Dallas generally make around $45,876. That is a strong return on a $17,375 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Pima Medical Institution San Antonio ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Located in the city of San Antonio, Pima Medical Institution San Antonio is a small private for-profit university. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $8,509 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $27,301. 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 also delivered strong value for dental assisting/assistant this year:
Narrow Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools by State
More Dental Assisting/Assistant Rankings
View All Dental Assisting/Assistant Rankings >
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 · 67 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
