2026 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Michigan
[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong dental hygiene/hygienist education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools.
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2026 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Michigan
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dental hygiene/hygienist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools
Our analysis ranked Kalamazoo Valley Community College the best value for a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist in Michigan. Set in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,144, while out-of-state students pay about $9,094. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $9,817. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $52,947. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lansing Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, landing the #2 spot this year. Lansing Community College is a large public school located in the city of Lansing. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Students borrow a median of $14,136 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Lansing Community College generally make around $49,832. Set against $14,136 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Delta College one of the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Located in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,820 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,880. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $17,800 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Delta College generally make around $36,828. That is a strong return on a $17,800 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in dental hygiene/hygienist will find it at Oakland Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,120, while out-of-state students pay about $5,560. Students borrow a median of $15,865 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Oakland Community College generally make around $46,032. That is a strong return on a $15,865 median debt.
Macomb Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. Students from in state pay about $3,660 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Students borrow a median of $9,862 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $38,758 early in their careers. Set against $9,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kellogg Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the city of Battle Creek, Kellogg Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,118, with out-of-state students paying around $8,282. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $20,432 in student loans. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Kellogg Community College earn a median of $32,616 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wayne County Community College District earned the #7 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne County Community College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,112 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,067. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $20,820 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Wayne County Community College District generally make around $48,892. Set against $20,820 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mott Community College landed the #8 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist value this year. Located in the city of Flint, Mott Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,845, with out-of-state students paying around $11,460. Students borrow a median of $25,926 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $40,544. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jackson Community College came in at #9 for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Jackson. Students from in state pay about $7,350 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,200 for out-of-state students. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $16,960 in student loans. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Jackson Community College earn a median of $41,322 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,960 median debt.
Grand Rapids Community College landed the #10 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist value this year. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,179 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,219. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $17,500. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Grand Rapids Community College earn a median of $45,543 early in their careers. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ferris State University landed the #11 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist value this year. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,778 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $21,985. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $56,277 early in their careers. Set against $21,985 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #12 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $26,521 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $43,742. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Detroit Mercy placed #13 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Detroit. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,946. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $23,593. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $50,234. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Detroit Mercy admits about 75% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
