2026 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in Minnesota
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for dental assisting/assistant students.
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2026 Best Value Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in Minnesota
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
Leading the list is Century College, our #1 best value for dental assisting/assistant in Minnesota. Century College is a large public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,214. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $29,300. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Century College generally make around $47,789. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College one of the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Located in the town of Hibbing, Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,022. Students borrow a median of $10,545 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $34,237. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hennepin Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental assisting/assistant, landing the #3 spot this year. Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,940. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $17,887. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Hennepin Technical College earn a median of $47,901 early in their careers. Set against $17,887 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Central College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Set in the suburb of North Mankato, South Central College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,146 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $13,139. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from South Central College generally make around $46,447. That is a strong return on a $13,139 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in dental assisting/assistant will find it at St Cloud Technical And Community College, which ranked #5. St Cloud Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. In-state tuition and fees average $6,124. Typical student debt for dental assisting/assistant graduates is $25,592. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of St Cloud Technical And Community College earn a median of $45,787 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Dakota County Technical College earned the #6 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,679 in tuition and fees. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $45,544. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College landed the #7 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Set in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,908. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $45,942. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota West Community And Technical College placed #8 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Granite Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,491. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $13,946 in student loans. Early-career dental assisting/assistant graduates make about $43,009. That is a strong return on a $13,946 median debt.
Central Lakes College Brainerd placed #9 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Set in the town of Brainerd, Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,249. Students borrow a median of $14,479 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Central Lakes College Brainerd generally make around $40,329. Set against $14,479 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwest Technical College landed the #10 spot for dental assisting/assistant value this year. Set in the town of Bemidji, Northwest Technical College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,254. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $31,053 in student loans. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Northwest Technical College earn a median of $36,203 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,053 median debt.
Rochester Community And Technical College placed #11 among the best values for dental assisting/assistant. Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rochester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,389. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Rochester Community And Technical College earn a median of $46,805 early in their careers. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College earned the #12 position for value in dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,161. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates carry a median of $24,036 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Minneapolis Community And Technical College generally make around $35,725. Set against $24,036 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Herzing University Minneapolis ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value dental assisting/assistant schools. Located in the city of St. Louis Park, Herzing University Minneapolis is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $13,450 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,871 to complete the dental assisting/assistant program here. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Herzing University Minneapolis earn a median of $50,206 early in their careers. Set against $26,871 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Herzing University Minneapolis admits about 94% of applicants.
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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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
