Decide today to further your education within the oral healthcare industry by obtaining one of the 20 best online bachelor’s in dental hygiene!
By earning a bachelor’s in dental hygiene, students are seeking career advancement as dental hygienists and in other related positions within the oral healthcare field. As a graduate of a dental hygiene bachelor’s program, students will gain a better understanding of how to improve the overall health of patients and provide further insight into the field as a whole.
What Is an Online Bachelor’s in Dental Hygiene Degree?
A bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene is a four-year undergraduate program that is predominantly designed for registered dental hygienists looking to further their careers. Students will complete a science-based curriculum that emphasizes the study of dental hygiene, while also integrating related subjects like public health, education, and leadership.
Most institutions will require students to hold up-to-date dental hygiene licensure that is in good standing in order to apply. Once enrolled, students will be required to complete anywhere from 30-80 major credit hours depending on the online degree program chosen.
How Much Can You Earn With an Online Bachelor’s in Dental Hygiene Degree?
Dental hygiene is an in-demand profession due to its flexible scheduling opportunities. As a dental hygienist, your work schedule can fluctuate between full- and part-time commitments, as well as between evening and weekend hours. Depending on your lifestyle, you can choose to work two to three days per week with longer shifts or complete a typical 40-hour workweek.
According to PayScale.com, individuals who hold a bachelor’s of science in dental hygiene make a median salary of $61,000 per year. Earning a bachelor of arts versus a bachelor of science degree might have a slight effect on your earnings, but both degrees are well respected in the field.
What Is Required for an Online Bachelor’s in Dental Hygiene Degree?
In order to graduate from an online bachelor’s in dental hygiene program, students are typically required to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours. Many online dental hygiene programs allow students to transfer in college credits already earned and accept accredited certifications.
Most bachelor’s programs are designed for individuals who are currently registered dental hygienists, which will mean showing proof of passing the Dental Hygiene National Board Exam. Some programs will require clinical hours, an internship experience, or a senior capstone course in order to graduate.
What Are the Best Online Bachelor’s in Dental Hygiene Degrees?
OSR uses six data points: three school-wide and three program-specific. For school-wide, OSR uses Student Satisfaction, Admission Rates, and the number of programs the school offers online. For program-specific, OSR checks the Median Debt of graduates from that program, how many degrees are offered within that program’s umbrella department, and what percentage of students at that school graduated from that department.
The six statistics are displayed by each school. The sliding bar under each statistic represents how that school compares to other US institutions. “Not reported” means a school did not release that information to the US Department of Education. A more detailed description of the OSR process can be found on the methodology page.