2026 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Tennessee
[Dental Hygiene/Hygienist](/majors/health-care-professions/dental-support-services/dental-hygiene-hygienist/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong dental hygiene/hygienist education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for dental hygiene/hygienist students.
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2026 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the dental hygiene/hygienist degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools
For return on investment in dental hygiene/hygienist, no school beat Chattanooga State Community College this year. Located in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,772, compared with $17,756 for out-of-state students. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Chattanooga State Community College generally make around $35,909. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in dental hygiene/hygienist will find it at Tennessee State University, which ranked #2. Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, compared with $22,416 for out-of-state students. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $17,900 in student loans. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $44,192. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tennessee State University admits about 70% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes East Tennessee State University one of the best values for dental hygiene/hygienist. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,216, compared with $13,726 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,687 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from East Tennessee State University generally make around $51,316. Set against $15,687 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in dental hygiene/hygienist will find it at Tennessee Wesleyan College, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Athens, Tennessee Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $30,814. Students borrow a median of $29,750 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Early-career dental hygiene/hygienist graduates make about $58,859. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tennessee Wesleyan College admits about 69% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in dental hygiene/hygienist will find it at South College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Knoxville, South College is a large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $18,535 in tuition and fees. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $24,533 in student loans. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of South College earn a median of $51,389 early in their careers. Set against $24,533 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lincoln Memorial University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Located in the town of Harrogate, Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $26,938. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $20,693. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Lincoln Memorial University earn a median of $64,307 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,693 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Concorde Career College Memphis came in at #7 for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Set in the city of Memphis, Concorde Career College Memphis is a small private for-profit institution. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $19,881 in student loans. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Concorde Career College Memphis earn a median of $34,092 early in their careers. Set against $19,881 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Remington College Nashville Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Remington College Nashville Campus is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,258. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $19,250. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Remington College Nashville Campus generally make around $37,125. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
