2026 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Utah

[Dental Hygiene/Hygienist](/majors/health-care-professions/dental-support-services/dental-hygiene-hygienist/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 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 Utah
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dental hygiene/hygienist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools
Salt Lake Community College earned the #1 spot for value among dental hygiene/hygienist schools in Utah. Set in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,426, compared with $14,244 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,357 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Salt Lake Community College generally make around $39,676. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in dental hygiene/hygienist will find it at Utah Valley University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,840 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $45,301. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Weber State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,557, compared with $17,545 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,268 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $41,659. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Dixie State College Of Utah earned it the #4 place for dental hygiene/hygienist. Located in the city of Saint George, Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,306, compared with $18,246 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,450 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Dixie State College Of Utah generally make around $51,816. Set against $12,450 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fortis College Salt Lake City is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, landing the #5 spot this year. Fortis College Salt Lake City is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,474. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $28,611. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Fortis College Salt Lake City generally make around $37,063. Set against $28,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.