2026 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Arizona
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for dental hygiene/hygienist students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in Arizona
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
Our analysis ranked Pima Community College the best value for a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist in Arizona. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $44,284 early in their careers. Set against $10,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mohave Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the rural area of Kingman, Mohave Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,208 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,968 for out-of-state students. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $14,766 in student loans. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Mohave Community College earn a median of $66,796 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rio Salado College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Rio Salado College is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,958. Typical student debt for dental hygiene/hygienist graduates is $12,786. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of $45,744 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,786 median debt.
Phoenix College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Located in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,750 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Phoenix College earn a median of $32,248 early in their careers. Set against $10,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mesa Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete the dental hygiene/hygienist program here. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Mesa Community College generally make around $56,024. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Arizona University came in at #6 for value in dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $26,169 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $64,082. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Carrington College Mesa ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the city of Mesa, Carrington College Mesa is a small private for-profit institution. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates carry a median of $18,311 in student loans. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Carrington College Mesa earn a median of $45,460 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,311 median debt.
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 · 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.
