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2026 Best Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools in the Far Western Region

37 Colleges in the United States
1,346 Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Degrees Awarded
$59,541 Avg Early-Career Salary

Dental Hygiene/Hygienist degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 50 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Dental Hygiene/Hygienist in the Far Western Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall dental hygiene/hygienist education in the Far Western Region.

Top Schools in Dental Hygiene/Hygienist

1

Santa Rosa Junior College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 25 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,692. Read more about the dental hygiene/hygienist program at Santa Rosa Junior College

2
Loma Linda University crest
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, CA

A rank of #2 makes Loma Linda University one of the top schools for dental hygiene/hygienist. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Loma Linda. About 33 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Loma Linda University in the most recent year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $67,159 in their early career. Loma Linda University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist from Loma Linda University

3

A rank of #3 makes Southwestern College Chula Vista one of the top schools for dental hygiene/hygienist. Located in the city of Chula Vista, Southwestern College Chula Vista is a very large public university. Southwestern College Chula Vista awarded about 30 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dental hygiene/hygienist degree from Southwestern College Chula Vista earn around $67,733 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist from Southwestern College Chula Vista

4
Cerritos College crest
Cerritos College
Norwalk, CA

Students looking for a strong dental hygiene/hygienist program will find one at Cerritos College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. There were roughly 21 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at Cerritos College in the most recent data year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $34,175 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,306. Read more about the dental hygiene/hygienist program at Cerritos College

5

University Of The Pacific is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, ranking #5. University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. University Of The Pacific graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at University Of The Pacific in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dental hygiene/hygienist degree from University Of The Pacific earn around $77,022 in the first couple years of their career. University Of The Pacific graduates carry a median of $23,514 in student loans. See the full dental hygiene/hygienist program report for University Of The Pacific

6

Truckee Meadows Community College earned the #6 position for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Truckee Meadows Community College is a large public school located in the city of Reno. Truckee Meadows Community College awarded about 12 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dental hygiene/hygienist degree from Truckee Meadows Community College earn around $52,785 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,290 to complete this degree. See the full dental hygiene/hygienist program report for Truckee Meadows Community College

7

College Of Southern Nevada ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Located in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public university. College Of Southern Nevada awarded about 22 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dental hygiene/hygienist degree from College Of Southern Nevada earn around $75,252 in the first couple years of their career. College Of Southern Nevada graduates carry a median of $9,980 in student loans. See the full dental hygiene/hygienist program report for College Of Southern Nevada

8

Carrington College California Sacramento came in at #8 for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, Carrington College California Sacramento is a mid-sized private for-profit university. Carrington College California Sacramento awarded about 57 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Carrington College California Sacramento generally make around $49,301. Students borrow a median of $20,751 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist from Carrington College California Sacramento

9

Fresno City College earned the #9 position for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public university. Fresno City College awarded about 25 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dental hygiene/hygienist degree from Fresno City College earn around $37,470 in the first couple years of their career. Fresno City College graduates carry a median of $7,234 in student loans. Get the full dental hygiene/hygienist details for Fresno City College

10
Diablo Valley College crest
Diablo Valley College
Pleasant Hill, CA

Diablo Valley College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public institution. Diablo Valley College awarded about 19 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Diablo Valley College generally make around $27,813. Diablo Valley College graduates carry a median of $9,205 in student loans. See the full dental hygiene/hygienist program report for Diablo Valley College

11
Foothill College crest
Foothill College
Los Altos Hills, CA

Foothill College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 59 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at Foothill College in the most recent data year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Foothill College earn a median of $81,255 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,285 to complete this degree. Get the full dental hygiene/hygienist details for Foothill College

12

Lake Washington Institute Of Technology landed the #12 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Kirkland. There were roughly 29 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at Lake Washington Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $77,431 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,750. Get the full dental hygiene/hygienist details for Lake Washington Institute Of Technology

13

Pasadena City College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Pasadena. Pasadena City College awarded about 15 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $38,841 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,191. Get the full dental hygiene/hygienist details for Pasadena City College

14
Chabot College crest
Chabot College
Hayward, CA

Chabot College placed #14 among the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public institution. About 38 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Chabot College in the most recent year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Chabot College earn a median of $85,175 early in their careers. Chabot College graduates carry a median of $14,122 in student loans. Read more about the dental hygiene/hygienist program at Chabot College

15

Portland Community College placed #15 among the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the city of Portland, Portland Community College is a very large public institution. About 36 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Portland Community College in the most recent year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Portland Community College earn a median of $47,311 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000. Get the full dental hygiene/hygienist details for Portland Community College

16
Pacific University crest
Pacific University
Forest Grove, OR

Pacific University came in at #16 for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Forest Grove. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 31 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Pacific University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Pacific University generally make around $76,060. Students borrow a median of $28,375 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist from Pacific University

17

Shoreline Community College landed the #17 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Shoreline Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Shoreline. Shoreline Community College awarded about 14 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Shoreline Community College earn a median of $78,372 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,250. See the full dental hygiene/hygienist program report for Shoreline Community College

18
Clark College crest
Clark College
Vancouver, WA

Clark College came in at #18 for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Vancouver. About 28 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Clark College in the most recent year. Students who receive their dental hygiene/hygienist degree from Clark College earn around $64,500 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,429. More information about a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist from Clark College

19

Columbia Basin College placed #19 among the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Columbia Basin College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Pasco. There were roughly 20 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at Columbia Basin College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dental hygiene/hygienist degree from Columbia Basin College earn around $70,534 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Read more about the dental hygiene/hygienist program at Columbia Basin College

20

West Coast University Orange County came in at #20 for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the city of Anaheim, West Coast University Orange County is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. About 60% of students finish within six years. West Coast University Orange County awarded about 66 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $73,751 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $36,134 to complete this degree. See the full dental hygiene/hygienist program report for West Coast University Orange County

21

Carrington College California San Jose landed the #21 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Set in the city of San Jose, Carrington College California San Jose is a small private for-profit institution. There were roughly 55 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at Carrington College California San Jose in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dental hygiene/hygienist degree from Carrington College California San Jose earn around $49,301 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,751. Get the full dental hygiene/hygienist details for Carrington College California San Jose

22

Eastern Washington University landed the #22 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. This large public university is located in the town of Cheney. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. Eastern Washington University awarded about 47 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $67,984 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. More information about a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist from Eastern Washington University

23

Bellingham Technical College placed #23 among the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Bellingham Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Bellingham. Bellingham Technical College awarded about 10 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Get the full dental hygiene/hygienist details for Bellingham Technical College

24

Oregon Institute Of Technology earned the #24 position for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the town of Klamath Falls, Oregon Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 58 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Oregon Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their dental hygiene/hygienist degree from Oregon Institute Of Technology earn around $66,691 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,880. More information about a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist from Oregon Institute Of Technology

25

San Joaquin Valley College Ontario placed #25 among the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. San Joaquin Valley College Ontario is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Ontario. San Joaquin Valley College Ontario awarded about 30 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dental hygiene/hygienist degree from San Joaquin Valley College Ontario earn around $67,916 in the first couple years of their career. San Joaquin Valley College Ontario graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Get the full dental hygiene/hygienist details for San Joaquin Valley College Ontario

Rest of the Top 42 Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s dental hygiene/hygienist ranking:

26
Sacramento City College crest
Sacramento City College
Sacramento, CA
27
Oxnard College crest
Oxnard College
Oxnard, CA
28
29
Cypress College crest
Cypress College
Cypress, CA
30
31
Moreno Valley College crest
Moreno Valley College
Moreno Valley, CA
32
33
West Los Angeles College crest
West Los Angeles College
Culver City, CA
34
35
36
37
38
Taft College crest
Taft College
Taft, CA
39
40
41
42

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 50 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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