by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Dental Hygiene/Hygienist explores Dental Hygiene/hygienist. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Clean Teeth And Apply Preventive Materials, Provide Oral Health Education And Treatment Counseling To Patients, Identify Oral Pathologies And Injuries, And Manage Dental Hygiene Practices. Includes Instruction In Dental Anatomy, Microbiology, And Pathology; Dental Hygiene Theory And Techniques; Cleaning Equipment Operation And Maintenance; Dental Materials; Radiology; Patient Education And Counseling; Office Management; Supervised Clinical Training; And Professional Standards. Read on to learn the key facts every dental hygiene/hygienist major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering dental hygiene/hygienist programs.
In the U.S., dental hygiene/hygienist draws strong interest, with 8,802 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools ranking analyzes these 334 schools to determine the best overall colleges for dental hygiene/hygienist students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of dental hygiene/hygienist programs later in this article.
Coursework for Dental Hygiene/Hygienist develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations dental hygiene/hygienist graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a dental hygiene/hygienist program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a dental hygiene/hygienist major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several dental hygiene/hygienist degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 48 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5,949 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,454 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 270 |
People currently working in careers related to dental hygiene/hygienist tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 57.0% |
| First professional degree | 9.5% |
| Master’s degree | 9.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 6.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 6.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.7% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in dental hygiene/hygienist careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in dental hygiene/hygienist prepares you for many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to dental hygiene/hygienist.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to dental hygiene/hygienist.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Hygienists | 3,299,832 | -4.9% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of dental hygiene/hygienist graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $28,149 |
| 4 years | $30,974 |
| 5 years | $33,855 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers dental hygiene/hygienist grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Dental Hygienists | $101,356 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 334 different dental hygiene/hygienist programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased dental hygiene/hygienist school rankings to help you.
Students interested in dental hygiene/hygienist, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Dental Assisting/Assistant | 15,557 |
| Dental Laboratory Technology/Technician | 295 |
| Dental Services and Allied Professions, Other | 107 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
