Dental Hygiene/Hygienist programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their dental hygiene/hygienist programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 102 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for dental hygiene/hygienist students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Dental Hygiene/Hygienist in the Southeast Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the dental hygiene/hygienist degrees they offer, see the list below.
No school ranked higher than University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill this year for dental hygiene/hygienist. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 28 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $54,207 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,431 in student loans.
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Central Piedmont Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, landing the #2 spot this year. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. About 23 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Central Piedmont Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $43,908. Typical student debt for the program is $11,861.
More information about a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist from Central Piedmont Community College
A rank of #3 makes Palm Beach State College one of the top schools for dental hygiene/hygienist. Set in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 24 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at Palm Beach State College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Palm Beach State College generally make around $63,723. Palm Beach State College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans.
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Old Dominion University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Norfolk. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 79 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Old Dominion University in the most recent year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Old Dominion University earn a median of $63,145 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,378 to complete this degree.
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Northern Virginia Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public university. About 30 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Northern Virginia Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their dental hygiene/hygienist degree from Northern Virginia Community College earn around $70,727 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,894.
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Broward College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Broward College is a very large public institution. About 18 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Broward College in the most recent year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $51,328 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,110 to complete this degree.
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Valencia College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Located in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a very large public university. About 22 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Valencia College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Valencia College generally make around $57,535. Students borrow a median of $14,413 to complete this degree.
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West Georgia Technical College earned the #8 position for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Set in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 11 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at West Georgia Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $39,272 in their early career. West Georgia Technical College graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans.
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Daytona State College landed the #9 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. This large public university is located in the city of Daytona Beach. Daytona State College awarded about 16 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $47,849 in their early career. Daytona State College graduates carry a median of $14,227 in student loans.
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University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences came in at #10 for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Little Rock. University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences awarded about 35 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences earn a median of $58,607 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
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Virginia Commonwealth University placed #11 among the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Richmond. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $72,808 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,924.
See the full dental hygiene/hygienist program report for Virginia Commonwealth University
Wayne Community College landed the #12 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 22 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Wayne Community College in the most recent year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Wayne Community College earn a median of $35,336 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
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Tallahassee Community College placed #13 among the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Tallahassee Community College is a large public university. About 28 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Tallahassee Community College in the most recent year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Tallahassee Community College earn a median of $51,709 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,417.
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Florida State College At Jacksonville placed #14 among the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Florida State College At Jacksonville awarded about 22 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $59,330 in their early career. Florida State College At Jacksonville graduates carry a median of $19,139 in student loans.
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Virginia Western Community College placed #15 among the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Virginia Western Community College awarded about 57 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dental hygiene/hygienist degree recipients from Virginia Western Community College generally make around $61,030. Virginia Western Community College graduates carry a median of $11,500 in student loans.
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University Of Mississippi Main Campus earned the #16 position for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Mississippi Main Campus graduates 72% of students within six years. University Of Mississippi Main Campus awarded about 19 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dental hygiene/hygienist degree from University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn around $51,838 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Mississippi Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,875 in student loans.
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Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans earned the #17 position for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of New Orleans. There were roughly 37 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $59,772 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Hillsborough Community College landed the #18 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Located in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public university. About 11 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Hillsborough Community College in the most recent year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $62,731 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,142.
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State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota placed #19 among the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the suburb of Bradenton, State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota is a large public institution. There were roughly 15 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota in the most recent data year. Dental Hygiene/hygienist graduates of State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota earn a median of $50,906 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,360 to complete this degree.
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Santa Fe College placed #20 among the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Located in the suburb of Gainesville, Santa Fe College is a large public university. Santa Fe College awarded about 22 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $56,722 in their early career. Santa Fe College graduates carry a median of $14,875 in student loans.
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Edison State College landed the #21 spot for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Myers, Edison State College is a large public institution. About 13 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees were awarded at Edison State College in the most recent year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $52,597 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,356.
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St Petersburg College placed #22 among the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. This very large public university is located in the city of St. Petersburg. There were roughly 21 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at St Petersburg College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $60,694 in their early career. St Petersburg College graduates carry a median of $24,734 in student loans.
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Fayetteville Technical Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. Fayetteville Technical Community College awarded about 23 dental hygiene/hygienist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $40,584 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,909.
More information about a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist from Fayetteville Technical Community College
West Virginia University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best dental hygiene/hygienist schools. West Virginia University is a very large public school located in the city of Morgantown. West Virginia University graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at West Virginia University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $57,102 in their early career. West Virginia University graduates carry a median of $26,121 in student loans.
Read more about the dental hygiene/hygienist program at West Virginia University
Guilford Technical Community College earned the #25 position for dental hygiene/hygienist this year. Set in the suburb of Jamestown, Guilford Technical Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 27 dental hygiene/hygienist students who graduated with this degree at Guilford Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dental hygiene/hygienist program make about $45,689 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,231 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in dental hygiene/hygienist from Guilford Technical Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Dental Hygiene/Hygienist Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong dental hygiene/hygienist education:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 102 schools evaluated.
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).
