2026 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Indiana

[Dental Hygiene/Hygienist](/majors/health-care-professions/dental-support-services/dental-hygiene-hygienist/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for dental hygiene/hygienist students.
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2026 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Indiana
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dental hygiene/hygienist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools
Leading the list is Indiana University Northwest, our #1 best value for dental hygiene/hygienist in Indiana. Set in the suburb of Gary, Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Indiana University Northwest earn a median of $57,654 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $12,611. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $36,371. Set against $12,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana University South Bend came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of South Bend. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Indiana University South Bend generally make around $55,314. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis one of the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $26,168 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $64,402. Set against $26,168 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Southern Indiana earned it the #5 place for dental hygiene/hygienist. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,066 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,907 for out-of-state students. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of University Of Southern Indiana earn a median of $61,972 early in their careers. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.