Best institutions to study Dental Hygiene/Hygienist
A program that prepares individuals to clean teeth and apply preventive materials, provide oral health education and treatment counseling to patients, identify oral pathologies and injuries, and manage dental hygiene practices.
339 U.S. institutions graduated 8,920 Dental Hygiene/Hygienist students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.0602, a specialization of Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (CIP 51.06), and leads most directly to the Dental Hygienists occupation (BLS SOC 29-1292).
About Dental Hygiene/Hygienist programs
A program that prepares individuals to clean teeth and apply preventive materials, provide oral health education and treatment counseling to patients, identify oral pathologies and injuries, and manage dental hygiene practices. Includes instruction in dental anatomy, microbiology, and pathology; dental hygiene theory and techniques; cleaning equipment operation and maintenance; dental materials; radiology; patient education and counseling; office management; supervised clinical training; and professional standards.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Dental Hygiene/Hygienist program prepares individuals for a rewarding career in oral health care. This program is designed for those interested in cleaning teeth, applying preventive materials, and providing essential oral health education to patients. It is ideal for students who are passionate about promoting dental hygiene and improving patient care.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in dental anatomy, microbiology, and pathology, as well as practical skills in cleaning techniques, patient education, and office management. Coursework includes supervised clinical training to ensure proficiency in dental hygiene practices.
Credentials awarded
What Dental Hygiene/Hygienist graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree6,051 graduates / yr · 268 institutions68%
- Bachelor's degree2,471 graduates / yr · 93 institutions28%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year176 graduates / yr · 4 institutions2.0%
- Master's degree100 graduates / yr · 13 institutions1.1%
- Award of less than 12 weeks77 graduates / yr · 4 institutions0.9%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years40 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.4%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years4 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
- Post-master's certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
Graduates over time
Dental Hygiene/Hygienist completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 7,909 |
| 2013 | 8,081 |
| 2014 | 8,267 |
| 2015 | 8,352 |
| 2016 | 8,215 |
| 2017 | 8,234 |
| 2018 | 8,259 |
| 2019 | 8,345 |
| 2020 | 6,724 |
| 2021 | 8,807 |
| 2022 | 8,524 |
| 2023 | 8,385 |
| 2024 | 8,802 |
| 2025 | 8,920 |
Top 50 institutions for Dental Hygiene/Hygienist, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plaza College Forest Hills, NYPrivate for-profitAssociate'sBachelor's | 95 | 68% | $19,409 | $57,819 |
| 2 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 94 | 41% | — | $53,091 |
| 3 | Old Dominion University Norfolk, VAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 83 | 46% | — | $63,145 |
| 4 | Cypress College Cypress, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 82 | 37% | — | — |
| 5 | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 80 | 62% | $35,358 | $61,374 |
| 6 | Concorde Career College - Dallas Dallas, TXPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 78 | 60% | $24,493 | $26,058 |
| 7 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato, MNPublicBachelor's | 72 | 54% | — | $62,496 |
| 8 | West Coast University - Anaheim - Orange County Anaheim, CAPrivate for-profitBachelor's | 72 | 60% | $36,879 | $73,751 |
| 9 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitAssociate'sBachelor's | 71 | 88% | $29,023 | $57,035 |
| 10 | West Los Angeles College Culver City, CAPublicBachelor's | 69 | 28% | — | — |
| 11 | Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PAPublicAssociate'sBachelor's | 69 | 53% | — | $57,043 |
| 12 | University of Bridgeport Bridgeport, CTPrivate not-for-profitAssociate'sBachelor'sMaster's | 68 | 41% | $25,149 | $65,025 |
| 13 | CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, NYPublicAssociate's | 67 | 21% | — | $55,457 |
| 14 | Concorde Career College - Garden Grove Garden Grove, CAPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 64 | 84% | $23,570 | $22,994 |
| 15 | Concorde Career College - Kansas City Kansas City, MOPrivate for-profitAssociate'sBachelor's | 64 | 53% | $29,551 | $23,712 |
| 16 | University of New Haven West Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitAssociate'sBachelor's | 63 | 63% | $32,614 | $59,086 |
| 17 | Concorde Career College - San Antonio San Antonio, TXPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 63 | 69% | $28,395 | $23,712 |
| 18 | Weber State University Ogden, UTPublicAssociate'sBachelor's | 62 | 46% | — | $45,118 |
| 19 | Concorde Career College - Aurora Aurora, COPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 61 | 64% | $18,015 | $26,058 |
| 20 | Concorde Career College - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CAPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 60 | 76% | $24,160 | $23,384 |
| 21 | San Joaquin Valley College - Ontario Ontario, CAPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 60 | 64% | $26,900 | $67,916 |
| 22 | Careers Unlimited Orem, UTPrivate for-profitBachelor's | 59 | — | — | $52,423 |
| 23 | University of New Mexico - Main Campus Albuquerque, NMPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 57 | 55% | — | $55,003 |
| 24 | Stark State College North Canton, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 57 | 23% | — | $32,023 |
| 25 | West Liberty University West Liberty, WVPublicAssociate'sBachelor'sMaster's | 57 | 60% | — | $53,420 |
| 26 | Carrington College - San Jose San Jose, CAPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 57 | 60% | $32,608 | $70,541 |
| 27 | Wichita State University Wichita, KSPublicBachelor's | 56 | 51% | — | $56,798 |
| 28 | Carrington College - Boise Boise, IDPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 55 | 62% | — | $60,958 |
| 29 | Eastern International College - Jersey City Jersey City, NJPrivate for-profitBachelor's | 55 | 34% | $23,532 | $56,287 |
| 30 | Concorde Career College - Memphis Memphis, TNPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 54 | 55% | $23,740 | $20,285 |
| 31 | Pueblo Community College Pueblo, COPublicAssociate'sAward of less than 12 weeksBachelor's | 53 | 31% | — | $62,355 |
| 32 | Ferris State University Big Rapids, MIPublicAssociate'sBachelor's | 53 | 47% | — | $49,748 |
| 33 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZPublicBachelor's | 52 | 61% | — | $64,082 |
| 34 | Community College of Denver Denver, COPublicAssociate'sBachelor's | 52 | 20% | — | $76,712 |
| 35 | Carrington College - Mesa Mesa, AZPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 51 | 54% | $48,051 | $26,485 |
| 36 | Foothill College Los Altos Hills, CAPublicBachelor's | 50 | 56% | — | $81,255 |
| 37 | Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington, KYPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAssociate's | 50 | 43% | — | $50,045 |
| 38 | Texas Woman's University Denton, TXPublicBachelor's | 50 | 49% | — | $55,694 |
| 39 | Tyler Junior College Tyler, TXPublicAssociate'sBachelor's | 49 | 27% | — | $53,557 |
| 40 | College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NVPublicBachelor'sAssociate's | 48 | 19% | — | $75,252 |
| 41 | Farmingdale State College Farmingdale, NYPublicAssociate'sBachelor's | 48 | 53% | — | $57,077 |
| 42 | University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center Oklahoma City, OKPublicBachelor's | 47 | — | — | $75,367 |
| 43 | Fortis College - Salt Lake City Salt Lake City, UTPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 47 | 60% | $27,487 | $48,870 |
| 44 | Concorde Career College - San Diego San Diego, CAPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 46 | 76% | $25,970 | $29,687 |
| 45 | Pasadena City College Pasadena, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 46 | 48% | — | — |
| 46 | Miami Dade College Miami, FLPublicAssociate's | 46 | 46% | — | $41,314 |
| 47 | Oregon Institute of Technology Klamath Falls, ORPublicBachelor's | 46 | 54% | — | $66,691 |
| 48 | South College Knoxville, TNPrivate for-profitAssociate'sBachelor's | 46 | 42% | $20,346 | — |
| 49 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, INPublicBachelor's | 44 | 54% | — | $64,402 |
| 50 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 44 | 88% | — | $61,173 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Dental Support Services and Allied Professions field (CIP 51.06) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 50 states
Where Dental Hygiene/Hygienist graduates come from. Each state links to all Dental Support Services and Allied Professions programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-1292, Dental Hygienists, and its national outlook.
Graduates often pursue careers as Dental Hygienists, with a promising job outlook of 7% growth and approximately 15,300 annual openings. The typical education required is an Associate's degree, and the median wage for this profession is $94,260.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.0602
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dental Hygienistsprimary SOC 29-1292 | $98,100 | +7.0% Faster than average | ~15,300 | Associate's degree |
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1071 | $107,310 | +17.3% Much faster than average | ~27,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Dental Hygiene/Hygienist programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Record and review patient medical histories.
- Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.
- Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.
- Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.
- Provide clinical services or health education to improve and maintain the oral health of patients or the general public.
- Chart conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist.
Tools and technology used
Other Dental Support Services and Allied Professions specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (CIP 51.06).
Common questions
What degree do I need to become a dental hygienist?+
An Associate's degree is typically required.
What skills are important for success in this program?+
Key skills include active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What tasks will I perform as a dental hygienist?+
You will clean teeth, examine gums, and provide oral health education.
What is the job outlook for dental hygienists?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 7%.
What is the CIP code for Dental Hygiene/Hygienist?+
Dental Hygiene/Hygienist is CIP 51.0602 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (CIP 51.06). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to clean teeth and apply preventive materials, provide oral health education and treatment counseling to patients, identify oral pathologies and injuries, and manage dental hygiene practices. Includes instruction in dental anatomy, microbiology, and pathology; dental hygiene theory and techniques; cleaning equipment operation and maintenance; dental materials; radiology; patient education and counseling; office management; supervised clinical training; and professional standards.
How many institutions offer Dental Hygiene/Hygienist programs?+
339 U.S. institutions reported Dental Hygiene/Hygienist graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 50 states, awarding 8,920 credentials in the year. That is 35.1% of all Dental Support Services and Allied Professions graduates.
How much do Dental Hygiene/Hygienist graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Dental Hygienists occupation, which Dental Hygiene/Hygienist most directly leads to, pays a median of $98,100 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Dental Support Services and Allied Professions field report median earnings of $54,903 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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