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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools in the Southwest Region

4 Colleges in the United States
2,398 Dental Assisting/Assistant Degrees Awarded
$32,167 Avg Early-Career Salary

Dental Assisting/Assistant degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 67 schools to find the best for dental assisting/assistant students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Dental Assisting/Assistant in the Southwest Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall dental assisting/assistant education in the Southwest Region.

Top Schools in Dental Assisting/Assistant

1

Pima Community College tops our 2026 ranking of the best dental assisting/assistant schools. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. There were roughly 14 dental assisting/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Pima Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental assisting/assistant program make about $44,284 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,000. See the full dental assisting/assistant program report for Pima Community College

2

Carrington College Phoenix is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in dental assisting/assistant, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Carrington College Phoenix is a small private for-profit university. About 85 dental assisting/assistant degrees were awarded at Carrington College Phoenix in the most recent year. Students who receive their dental assisting/assistant degree from Carrington College Phoenix earn around $45,460 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,311. Get the full dental assisting/assistant details for Carrington College Phoenix

3

Students looking for a strong dental assisting/assistant program will find one at Central New Mexico Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. Central New Mexico Community College awarded about 21 dental assisting/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $27,816 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete this degree. Read more about the dental assisting/assistant program at Central New Mexico Community College

4

Carrington College Tucson is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in dental assisting/assistant, ranking #4. Located in the city of Tucson, Carrington College Tucson is a small private for-profit university. There were roughly 47 dental assisting/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Carrington College Tucson in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dental assisting/assistant degree from Carrington College Tucson earn around $26,485 in the first couple years of their career. Carrington College Tucson graduates carry a median of $8,933 in student loans. Get the full dental assisting/assistant details for Carrington College Tucson

5

Tarrant County College District came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best dental assisting/assistant schools. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. There were roughly 12 dental assisting/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Tarrant County College District in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental assisting/assistant program make about $65,537 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,148 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in dental assisting/assistant from Tarrant County College District

6

Carrington College Mesa placed #6 among the best dental assisting/assistant schools. Set in the city of Mesa, Carrington College Mesa is a small private for-profit institution. There were roughly 52 dental assisting/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Carrington College Mesa in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental assisting/assistant program make about $45,460 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,311. Read more about the dental assisting/assistant program at Carrington College Mesa

7

Houston Community College earned the #7 position for dental assisting/assistant this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Houston. There were roughly 31 dental assisting/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Houston Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dental assisting/assistant degree from Houston Community College earn around $56,005 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,223 to complete this degree. Read more about the dental assisting/assistant program at Houston Community College

8

Tyler Junior College landed the #8 spot for dental assisting/assistant this year. This large public university is located in the city of Tyler. There were roughly 26 dental assisting/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Tyler Junior College in the most recent data year. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Tyler Junior College earn a median of $53,557 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,241 to complete this degree. Read more about the dental assisting/assistant program at Tyler Junior College

9

Carrington College Albuquerque came in at #9 for dental assisting/assistant this year. Carrington College Albuquerque is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Albuquerque. About 12 dental assisting/assistant degrees were awarded at Carrington College Albuquerque in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Carrington College Albuquerque generally make around $26,485. Students borrow a median of $8,933 to complete this degree. Read more about the dental assisting/assistant program at Carrington College Albuquerque

10
Phoenix College crest
Phoenix College
Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix College landed the #10 spot for dental assisting/assistant this year. This large public university is located in the city of Phoenix. There were roughly 49 dental assisting/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Phoenix College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Phoenix College generally make around $32,248. Typical student debt for the program is $10,750. See the full dental assisting/assistant program report for Phoenix College

11

El Paso Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best dental assisting/assistant schools. This very large public university is located in the city of El Paso. There were roughly 18 dental assisting/assistant students who graduated with this degree at El Paso Community College in the most recent data year. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete this degree. Read more about the dental assisting/assistant program at El Paso Community College

12

New Mexico State University Dona Ana placed #12 among the best dental assisting/assistant schools. New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Las Cruces. New Mexico State University Dona Ana awarded about 16 dental assisting/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental assisting/assistant program make about $39,399 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,284. Get the full dental assisting/assistant details for New Mexico State University Dona Ana

13
Del Mar College crest
Del Mar College
Corpus Christi, TX

Del Mar College placed #13 among the best dental assisting/assistant schools. Set in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public institution. There were roughly 11 dental assisting/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Del Mar College in the most recent data year. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $40,661 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,476. See the full dental assisting/assistant program report for Del Mar College

14

Mohave Community College landed the #14 spot for dental assisting/assistant this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Kingman. There were roughly 19 dental assisting/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Mohave Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental assisting/assistant program make about $66,796 in their early career. Mohave Community College graduates carry a median of $14,766 in student loans. See the full dental assisting/assistant program report for Mohave Community College

15

Lamar State College Orange earned the #15 position for dental assisting/assistant this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Orange. Lamar State College Orange awarded about 24 dental assisting/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Lamar State College Orange earn a median of $22,866 early in their careers. Lamar State College Orange graduates carry a median of $18,506 in student loans. Get the full dental assisting/assistant details for Lamar State College Orange

16

Santa Fe Community College landed the #16 spot for dental assisting/assistant this year. Santa Fe Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Santa Fe. Santa Fe Community College awarded about 17 dental assisting/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Santa Fe Community College earn a median of $51,935 early in their careers. Santa Fe Community College graduates carry a median of $15,267 in student loans. Read more about the dental assisting/assistant program at Santa Fe Community College

17
San Antonio College crest
San Antonio College
San Antonio, TX

San Antonio College landed the #17 spot for dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 22 dental assisting/assistant students who graduated with this degree at San Antonio College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from San Antonio College generally make around $37,855. Typical student debt for the program is $11,839. Read more about the dental assisting/assistant program at San Antonio College

18

University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus landed the #18 spot for dental assisting/assistant this year. University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Gallup. About 11 dental assisting/assistant degrees were awarded at University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their dental assisting/assistant degree from University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus earn around $35,132 in the first couple years of their career. University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus graduates carry a median of $10,986 in student loans. See the full dental assisting/assistant program report for University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus

19
Grayson College crest
Grayson College
Denison, TX

Grayson College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best dental assisting/assistant schools. Set in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public institution. Grayson College awarded about 21 dental assisting/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental assisting/assistant program make about $30,560 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete this degree. Get the full dental assisting/assistant details for Grayson College

20

Pima Medical Institute Tucson came in at #20 for dental assisting/assistant this year. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Medical Institute Tucson is a mid-sized private for-profit university. There were roughly 62 dental assisting/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Pima Medical Institute Tucson in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Pima Medical Institute Tucson generally make around $49,259. Students borrow a median of $20,505 to complete this degree. See the full dental assisting/assistant program report for Pima Medical Institute Tucson

21

Pima Medical Institute Phoenix landed the #21 spot for dental assisting/assistant this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Phoenix. Pima Medical Institute Phoenix awarded about 43 dental assisting/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Pima Medical Institute Phoenix generally make around $29,935. Pima Medical Institute Phoenix graduates carry a median of $8,193 in student loans. More information about a degree in dental assisting/assistant from Pima Medical Institute Phoenix

22

Pima Medical Institute Mesa earned the #22 position for dental assisting/assistant this year. Set in the city of Mesa, Pima Medical Institute Mesa is a small private for-profit institution. Pima Medical Institute Mesa awarded about 33 dental assisting/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dental assisting/assistant degree recipients from Pima Medical Institute Mesa generally make around $27,301. Typical student debt for the program is $8,509. Read more about the dental assisting/assistant program at Pima Medical Institute Mesa

23

Pima Medical Institute El Paso came in at #23 for dental assisting/assistant this year. Pima Medical Institute El Paso is a small private for-profit school located in the city of El Paso. About 81 dental assisting/assistant degrees were awarded at Pima Medical Institute El Paso in the most recent year. Students who receive their dental assisting/assistant degree from Pima Medical Institute El Paso earn around $27,301 in the first couple years of their career. Pima Medical Institute El Paso graduates carry a median of $8,509 in student loans. Read more about the dental assisting/assistant program at Pima Medical Institute El Paso

24

Autry Technology Center landed the #24 spot for dental assisting/assistant this year. Autry Technology Center is a small public school located in the city of Enid. Autry Technology Center awarded about 19 dental assisting/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. See the full dental assisting/assistant program report for Autry Technology Center

25

Pima Medical Institute Houston earned the #25 position for dental assisting/assistant this year. Located in the city of Houston, Pima Medical Institute Houston is a small private for-profit university. There were roughly 67 dental assisting/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Pima Medical Institute Houston in the most recent data year. Dental Assisting/assistant graduates of Pima Medical Institute Houston earn a median of $49,259 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,505 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in dental assisting/assistant from Pima Medical Institute Houston

Rest of the Top 50 Dental Assisting/Assistant Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s dental assisting/assistant ranking:

26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 67 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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