2026 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Georgia
[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 16 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Georgia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dental hygiene/hygienist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools
West Georgia Technical College tops our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools in Georgia. Set in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,410, while out-of-state students pay about $5,978. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $39,272. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Atlanta Technical College earned it the #2 place for dental hygiene/hygienist. Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Atlanta. Students from in state pay about $3,382 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,950. Students borrow a median of $17,655 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Atlanta Technical College generally make around $35,441. 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 Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, which ranked #3. Located in the rural area of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,480, while out-of-state students pay about $6,048. Students borrow a median of $10,864 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Wiregrass Georgia Technical College generally make around $40,452. Set against $10,864 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins is a large public school located in the city of Warner Robins. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,448, compared with $6,016 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $15,516. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins generally make around $48,057. Set against $15,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Columbus Technical College earned it the #5 place for dental hygiene/hygienist. Columbus Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Columbus. Students from in state pay about $4,052 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,262. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $15,845. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Columbus Technical College generally make around $37,936. That is a strong return on a $15,845 median debt.
Lanier Technical College placed #6 among the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Located in the city of Gainesville, Lanier Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,980, with out-of-state students paying around $7,190. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $12,278 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Lanier Technical College generally make around $37,118. Set against $12,278 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Savannah Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Savannah Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Savannah. In-state tuition and fees average $3,330, compared with $5,898 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $7,250. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $40,501. Set against $7,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Athens Technical College came in at #8 for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the city of Athens, Athens Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,390, compared with $5,958 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Athens Technical College generally make around $41,631. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Georgia Highlands College came in at #9 for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Georgia Highlands College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Rome. Students from in state pay about $3,120 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,080. Students borrow a median of $15,134 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Georgia Highlands College earn a median of $56,814 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,134 median debt.
Georgia Perimeter College earned the #10 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Perimeter College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,104, with out-of-state students paying around $10,064. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $15,100. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $56,474. That is a strong return on a $15,100 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Clayton State University came in at #11 for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Set in the suburb of Morrow, Clayton State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,180, while out-of-state students pay about $16,532. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $25,000. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $54,559. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Clayton State University admits about 68% of applicants.
Augusta University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the city of Augusta, Augusta University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,414, while out-of-state students pay about $24,734. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $16,750. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Augusta University earn a median of $48,992 early in their careers. Set against $16,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Albany State University earned the #13 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the city of Albany, Albany State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,656, with out-of-state students paying around $17,008. Students borrow a median of $28,158 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Albany State University earn a median of $47,466 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,158 median debt.
Georgia State University earned the #14 position for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Georgia State University is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Students from in state pay about $8,664 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,840. Students borrow a median of $15,100 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Georgia State University generally make around $56,474. That is a strong return on a $15,100 median debt. Georgia State University admits about 55% of applicants.
Fortis College Smyrna ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Located in the suburb of Smyrna, Fortis College Smyrna is a small private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,543. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $25,125. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $28,822. Set against $25,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
More Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Rankings
View All Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
